WhatGradsMake
Associate-23% vs national median165 grads tracked

Fire Protection at Helena College University of Montana

Ranked 93rd of 101 associate programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$35,792
middle 50%: $25,774 – $48,567
Median · 5 years out
$62,818
middle 50%: $46,903 – $84,400
Median · 10 years out
$76,015
middle 50%: $47,574 – $91,987

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 Helena College University of Montana's associate program in Fire Protection earn a median $35,792 one year after graduating, rising to $76,015 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 23% below the national median of $81,295 for this field, ranking 93rd 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
7.1 yrs
≈ $8,501 total interest

Same major at other universities

Aims Community College
$66,937 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$65,194 · 5 yrs out
Kirkwood Community College
$65,062 · 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
Erie Community College
$61,498 · 5 yrs out
Vincennes University
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$60,484 · 5 yrs out
Parkland College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Ozarks Technical Community College
$53,767 · 5 yrs out
Hawaii Community College
$51,223 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Helena College University of Montana

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$78,415 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$62,393 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$60,738 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$59,048 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$59,048 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Associate)
$58,213 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$55,573 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$55,573 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$53,873 · 5 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$52,221 · 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