Firefighter Apprenticeship in Texas

Wages, programs & career outlook

Firefighters respond to fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, and hazardous material calls. Most work 24- or 48-hour shifts out of a station, alternating between active calls, equipment maintenance, training drills, and public education.

TX Median Salary
$60,840/yr
+2% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
TX Employment
30,400
Firefighters employed
TX Sponsors
4
Registered programs
Training Term
2.0 yrs
Hybrid
Job Growth
3.4%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
27,100
Nationally, per yr

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Texas: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Texas combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 2.0 years and follow a hybrid structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Texas pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Texas are $60,840/year, +2% above the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Texas has 4 registered apprenticeship sponsors for firefighter listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.4% job growth for firefighters nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 27,100 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Texas-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Texas Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Texas across all experience levels.

10th pct
$42,430
Median
$60,840
90th pct
$76,840
Middle 50% of workers earn $49,110$71,960

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Texas

No firefighter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Texas. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Firefighter Apprenticeship Sponsors in Texas

4 firefighter-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Texas. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current firefighter apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT Fort Worth Tarrant County
City of Lancaster - Fire Department Lancaster
Longview Fire Department Longview Gregg County
Lufkin Fire Department Lufkin
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

Filter by occupation code 33-2011 and state TX for the most relevant results.

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Texas

Texas has only 4 Firefighter-adjacent registered sponsors in our directory — program slots may be competitive and early applications give the best shot at placement. Direct outreach to union halls in the state's largest cities often matters more than formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Firefighter salary in Texas?
The median annual wage for Firefighters in Texas is $60,840 as of May 2024. Wages range from $42,430 at the 10th percentile to $76,840 at the 90th percentile.
How long is a Firefighter apprenticeship?
Most Firefighter apprenticeships run 2 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
What's the difference between a Firefighter apprenticeship and trade school?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 2 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find a Firefighter apprenticeship in Texas?
Our directory surfaces 4 Firefighter-related registered sponsors in Texas. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Firefighter apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Texas, a first-year Firefighter apprentice might earn around $30,420/yr (roughly half the $60,840 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 2-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Firefighters also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Fire Protection programs in Texas →
Or see all 36 programs nationwide.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Texas

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.