WhatGradsMake
Associate0% vs national median78 grads tracked

Fire Protection at Des Moines Area Community College

Ranked 54th of 101 associate programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$46,845
middle 50%: $35,872 – $75,444
Median · 5 years out
$81,295
middle 50%: $56,272 – $96,490
Median · 10 years out
$88,614
middle 50%: $60,837 – $112,807

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Fire Protection (associate) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Des Moines Area Community College's associate program in Fire Protection earn a median $46,845 one year after graduating, rising to $88,614 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 0% above the national median of $81,295 for this field, ranking 54th of 101 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
5.6 yrs
≈ $6,489 total interest

Same major at other universities

Lincoln Land Community College
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
Chemeketa Community College
$84,761 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Oakton College
$82,614 · 5 yrs out
Bristol Community College
$82,300 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$81,833 · 5 yrs out
Utah Valley University
$80,278 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Central College
$79,950 · 5 yrs out
Trinity Valley Community College
$79,368 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
Hocking Technical College
$78,372 · 5 yrs out
Central Oregon Community College
$78,278 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Des Moines Area Community College

Fire Protection (Certificate)
$85,523 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$81,357 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$79,157 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$73,958 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$72,928 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$71,555 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$68,222 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate)
$67,948 · 5 yrs out

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