WhatGradsMake
Associate-3% vs national median63 grads tracked

Fire Protection at Richland Community College

Ranked 58th of 101 associate programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$55,665
middle 50%: $30,988 – $88,299
Median · 5 years out
$78,529
middle 50%: $51,223 – $93,908
Median · 10 years out
$89,880
middle 50%: $70,012 – $104,398

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 Richland Community College's associate program in Fire Protection earn a median $55,665 one year after graduating, rising to $89,880 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% below the national median of $81,295 for this field, ranking 58th 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
5.3 yrs
≈ $5,955 total interest

Same major at other universities

Bristol Community College
$82,300 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$81,833 · 5 yrs out
Des Moines Area Community College
$81,295 · 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
Hocking Technical College
$78,372 · 5 yrs out
Central Oregon Community College
$78,278 · 5 yrs out
Tidewater Community College
$78,072 · 5 yrs out
Suffolk County Community College
$77,755 · 5 yrs out
Waubonsee Community College
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Triton College
$76,015 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Richland Community College

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$136,719 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$129,378 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$111,056 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$111,056 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,728 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$70,441 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$68,070 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,254 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$67,204 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,818 · 5 yrs out

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