Firefighter Apprenticeship in Vermont

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.

VT Median Salary
$46,130/yr
-23% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
VT Employment
470
Firefighters employed
VT Sponsors
2
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 Vermont: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Vermont 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.

Vermont pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Vermont are $46,130/year, -23% below the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Vermont has 2 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 — Vermont-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Vermont Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Vermont across all experience levels.

10th pct
$31,480
Median
$46,130
90th pct
$58,240
Middle 50% of workers earn $37,440$53,450

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Vermont

No firefighter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Vermont. 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 Vermont

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

Organization City County
Sherburne Fire District #1 Killington
Royalton Fire District So. Royalton
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

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

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Vermont

With 2 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, Vermont's Firefighter apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Firefighters earn in Vermont?
The BLS reports a median wage of $46,130/yr for Firefighters in Vermont (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is a Firefighter apprenticeship?
The standard Firefighter apprenticeship is 2 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Firefighters?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Firefighters combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
How do I find a Firefighter apprenticeship in Vermont?
Contact one of the 2 Firefighter-adjacent registered sponsors in Vermont (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Firefighter apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Vermont, a first-year Firefighter apprentice might earn around $23,065/yr (roughly half the $46,130 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 36 Fire Protection programs nationwide →
Too few Vermont-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Vermont

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