Firefighter

Careers / Firefighter

🚒

Respond to emergencies and protect life and property

📚

Typical Education

Certificate

→

💼

Annual Openings

27,400

→

💰

Median Salary

$57,120

10-Year Job Outlook

→ 4%Stable

Projected employment change 2023-2033 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

165

Schools

227

Programs

$33k

Avg Earnings

Regions

Reading the Numbers

Earnings/yr

Median salary 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard)

ROI %

Return on investment: (Earnings − Debt) ÷ Debt. Higher = better payoff.

Debt

Median total student debt at graduation for this program

Net Price

Annual cost after grants/scholarships (avg for all students at school)

How to Get There

Multiple educational paths can lead to a career as a Firefighter. Explore programs by credential level below.

Certificate37 programs

Butte College

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Oroville, CA • West

$73,170/yr

Blackhawk Technical College

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Janesville, WI • Midwest

$68,669/yr

Alvin Community College

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Alvin, TX • Southwest

$67,797/yr

Blinn College District

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Brenham, TX • Southwest

$61,585/yr

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Eau Claire, WI • Midwest

$60,737/yr

+452.2% ROI

$11,000 debt

+32 more Certificate programs available

Associate65 programs

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Fire Protection.

Cincinnati, OH • Midwest

$91,944/yr

Century College

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

White Bear Lake, MN • Midwest

$54,174/yr

+203% ROI

$17,879 debt

Century College

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

San Juan, PR

$54,174/yr

+203% ROI

$17,879 debt

Bunker Hill Community College

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Boston, MA • Northeast

$47,573/yr

American Public University System

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Charles Town, WV • Southeast

$46,978/yr

+95.7% ROI

$24,003 debt

+60 more Associate programs available

Bachelor's99 programs

Anna Maria College

Fire Protection.

Paxton, MA • Northeast

$81,637/yr

+251.1% ROI

$23,250 debt

American Public University System

Fire Protection.

Charles Town, WV • Southeast

$73,302/yr

+209.4% ROI

$23,688 debt

American University

Fire Protection.

Washington, DC • Southeast

$73,302/yr

+209.4% ROI

$23,688 debt

Charter Oak State College

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

New Britain, CT • Northeast

$68,956/yr

+267.8% ROI

$18,750 debt

American Public University System

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Charles Town, WV • Southeast

$57,409/yr

+174.8% ROI

$20,888 debt

+94 more Bachelor's programs available

Master's22 programs

American Public University System

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Charles Town, WV • Southeast

$74,466/yr

+99.5% ROI

$37,330 debt

American University

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Washington, DC • Southeast

$74,466/yr

+99.5% ROI

$37,330 debt

Bellevue University

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Bellevue, NE • Midwest

$65,603/yr

+60% ROI

$41,000 debt

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Tempe, AZ • Southwest

$65,277/yr

+80.7% ROI

$36,115 debt

Boston University

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Boston, MA • Northeast

$63,965/yr

+61.1% ROI

$39,700 debt

+17 more Master's programs available

Doctoral1 program

Capella University

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Minneapolis, MN • Midwest

$76,899/yr

-44.5% ROI

$138,500 debt

Post-doc3 programs

American University

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Washington, DC • Southeast

$69,195/yr

+103.3% ROI

$34,030 debt

American Public University System

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Charles Town, WV • Southeast

$69,195/yr

+103.3% ROI

$34,030 debt

Capella University

Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Minneapolis, MN • Midwest

—/yr

Schools by Region

Compare programs across different regions to find the best fit for you.

Midwest45 programs

Avg earnings: $40,728/yr

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Cincinnati, OH

$91,944

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN

$76,899

-44.5%

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, WI

Career outlook data from Bureau of Labor Statistics. Program earnings and ROI from College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Earnings represent median income 1 year after graduation. ROI is calculated as (Earnings - Debt) / Debt.