Certificate (under 1 year)-5% vs national median167 grads tracked
Fire Protection at Richland Community College
Ranked 36th of 64 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$46,298
middle 50%: $30,871 – $89,880
Median · 5 years out
$67,204
middle 50%: $46,435 – $95,419
Median · 10 years out
$101,595
middle 50%: $83,557 – $119,554
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Fire Protection (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Fire protection certificate holders earn $46k initially. Median earnings reach $67k after five years and $102k after ten years.
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
6.2 yrs
≈ $7,151 total interest
Same major at other universities
Casper College
$70,497 · 5 yrs out
Wharton County Junior College
$69,441 · 5 yrs out
Weatherford College
$68,154 · 5 yrs out
Del Mar College
$67,746 · 5 yrs out
Hill College
$67,607 · 5 yrs out
South Plains College
$67,403 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$66,990 · 5 yrs out
Navarro College
$66,598 · 5 yrs out
Sauk Valley Community College
$66,438 · 5 yrs out
El Paso Community College
$65,717 · 5 yrs out
Aims Community College
$65,230 · 5 yrs out
Vernon College
$64,280 · 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
Fire Protection (Associate)
$78,529 · 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
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,818 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$64,297 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Compare universities
Homeland Security
Compare universities
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Compare universities
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
Compare universities
Security Science and Technology
Compare universities