Fire Protection
What Fire Protection Graduates Do
Your career in fire protection will likely begin on the front lines as a firefighter. Your days will be a mix of intense action and focused preparation: responding to fires and medical emergencies, but also maintaining your truck’s hoses and ladders, running training drills at the station, and engaging with the community. With experience, you can advance to First-Line Supervisor, leading a crew and making critical command decisions on-scene.
Alternatively, you can specialize in prevention and analysis. As a Fire Inspector, you’ll spend your days visiting buildings to check that sprinkler systems, alarms, and exit routes are up to code. As an Investigator, you’ll arrive after a fire is out, sifting through debris to determine its cause. While firefighter pay provides a solid start, experienced inspectors and supervisors see their earnings climb substantially, with top-level managers earning well into six figures. Demand is steady, and roles like Forest Fire Inspector are growing especially fast. AI may help with planning or analyzing building blueprints, but the core hands-on work of battling a blaze or investigating a scene will remain firmly in human hands.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 16 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Fire Protection. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Arson And Bomb Investigator
RAPIDS 531 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $78,060 – $105K | 3.8% |
|
Fire Apparatus Engineer
RAPIDS 535 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Captain
RAPIDS 576 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $72K – $92,430 – $116K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Engineer
RAPIDS 541 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Fighter
RAPIDS 195 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Fighter Diver
RAPIDS 1092 |
7000 hrs
~3.5 yrs |
Time | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Fighter Paramedic
RAPIDS 1091 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Fighter Specialist Wildland
RAPIDS 544 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Fighter, Crash, Fire
RAPIDS 192 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Inspector
RAPIDS 516 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $78,060 – $105K | 3.8% |
|
Fire Marshall
RAPIDS 1090 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $78,060 – $105K | 3.8% |
|
Fire Medic
RAPIDS 754 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Prevention Officer
RAPIDS 1089 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $72K – $92,430 – $116K | 3.4% |
|
Fire Suppression Technician
RAPIDS 1088 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
|
Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer
RAPIDS 2073CB |
Competency | Competency | $100K – $136,550 – $179K | 4.5% |
|
Wildland Fire Fighter Specialist
RAPIDS 0544HY |
3000 hrs
~1.5 yrs |
Hybrid | $44K – $59,530 – $77K | 3.4% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Fire Protection
Top 20 of 37 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL |
83 79–85 |
$77,935/yr | 184.2x |
| 2 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL |
80 76–81 |
$55,829/yr | 207.2x |
| 3 | Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont, TX |
80 76–81 |
$55,778/yr | 195.1x |
| 4 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA |
80 76–82 |
$53,847/yr | 483.9x |
| 5 | Northwest Florida State College Niceville, FL |
79 75–80 |
$52,856/yr | 161.8x |
| 6 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA |
79 75–81 |
$50,364/yr | 395.6x |
| 7 | Hillsborough Community College Tampa, FL |
79 75–81 |
$50,331/yr | 270.5x |
| 8 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OH |
78 75–80 |
$91,944/yr | 84.1x |
| 9 | North Shore Community College Danvers, MA |
78 75–80 |
$90,948/yr | 84.0x |
| 10 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL |
78 74–80 |
$49,810/yr | 172.1x |
| 11 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL |
78 74–79 |
$47,206/yr | 195.0x |
| 12 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX |
78 74–79 |
$47,024/yr | 224.7x |
| 13 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL |
78 73–79 |
$46,698/yr | 225.1x |
| 14 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA |
78 74–80 |
$46,660/yr | 394.4x |
| 15 | Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City Kansas City, MO |
77 73–79 |
$48,321/yr | 153.6x |
| 16 | McLennan Community College Waco, TX |
77 73–79 |
$47,467/yr | 167.3x |
| 17 | Aims Community College Greeley, CO |
77 73–78 |
$44,470/yr | 211.8x |
| 18 | Augusta Technical College Augusta, GA |
76 72–77 |
$48,265/yr | 119.0x |
| 19 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI |
76 72–77 |
$44,178/yr | 145.3x |
| 20 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL |
75 72–77 |
$75,326/yr | 68.4x |
Highest Earning Fire Protection Programs
Schools where Fire Protection graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | $91,944/yr | 78 |
| North Shore Community College | $90,948/yr | 78 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | $77,935/yr | 83 |
| Waldorf University | $76,032/yr | 62 |
| Columbia Southern University | $75,326/yr | 75 |
| Purdue University Global | $70,749/yr | 68 |
| College of DuPage | $58,160/yr | 73 |
| St Petersburg College | $55,829/yr | 80 |
| Lamar Institute of Technology | $55,778/yr | 80 |
| Santa Ana College | $53,847/yr | 80 |
Best ROI for Fire Protection
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Fire Protection.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana College | 483.9x | $53,847/yr | 80 |
| Modesto Junior College | 395.6x | $50,364/yr | 79 |
| Santa Ana College | 394.4x | $46,660/yr | 78 |
| Hillsborough Community College | 270.5x | $50,331/yr | 79 |
| Houston Community College | 252.0x | $39,283/yr | 75 |
| Pima Community College | 242.3x | $35,059/yr | 72 |
| Palm Beach State College | 225.1x | $46,698/yr | 78 |
| Austin Community College District | 224.7x | $47,024/yr | 78 |
| Aims Community College | 211.8x | $44,470/yr | 77 |
| St Petersburg College | 207.2x | $55,829/yr | 80 |
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Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Fire Protection degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.