Associate-20% vs national median222 grads tracked
Fire Protection at Kirkwood Community College
Ranked 89th of 101 associate programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,821
middle 50%: $25,042 – $49,217
Median · 5 years out
$65,062
middle 50%: $49,802 – $79,509
Median · 10 years out
$79,678
middle 50%: $65,986 – $91,518
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Fire Protection (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Kirkwood Community College fire protection associates earn $37k in year 1. Medians increase to $65k by year 5 and $80k by year 10.
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
6.8 yrs
≈ $8,215 total interest
Same major at other universities
Southern Maine Community College
$69,033 · 5 yrs out
Monroe Community College
$68,731 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Oregon Community College
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
Delgado Community College
$67,664 · 5 yrs out
Aims Community College
$66,937 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$65,194 · 5 yrs out
Lake Superior College
$64,326 · 5 yrs out
Onondaga Community College
$64,257 · 5 yrs out
Owens Community College
$63,548 · 5 yrs out
Helena College University of Montana
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Erie Community College
$61,498 · 5 yrs out
Vincennes University
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Kirkwood Community College
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$76,958 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,675 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$67,528 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$65,511 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$65,062 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$64,578 · 5 yrs out
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