WhatGradsMake
Associate+40% vs national median161 grads tracked

Fire Protection at McHenry County College

Ranked 10th of 101 associate programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$67,570
middle 50%: $42,110 – $114,775
Median · 5 years out
$114,157
middle 50%: $78,170 – $145,947
Median · 10 years out
$114,831
middle 50%: $96,390 – $143,703

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 McHenry County College's associate program in Fire Protection earn a median $67,570 one year after graduating, rising to $114,831 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 40% above the national median of $81,295 for this field, ranking 10th 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
4.1 yrs
≈ $4,566 total interest

Same major at other universities

Navarro College
$122,926 · 5 yrs out
Middlesex Community College
$122,926 · 5 yrs out
Moraine Valley Community College
$122,364 · 5 yrs out
Prairie State College
$121,802 · 5 yrs out
North Shore Community College
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Saint Louis Community College
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Collin County Community College District
$112,807 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$112,340 · 5 yrs out
Tarrant County College District
$110,938 · 5 yrs out
Community College of Aurora
$109,070 · 5 yrs out
Lone Star College System
$108,135 · 5 yrs out
San Antonio College
$107,726 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at McHenry County College

Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$99,994 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Associate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$75,080 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$72,384 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$72,384 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$71,823 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$70,584 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$68,327 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$66,619 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$65,698 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$64,175 · 5 yrs out

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