Certificate (under 1 year)-5% vs national median271 grads tracked
Fire Protection at South Plains College
Ranked 35th of 64 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$45,956
middle 50%: $32,710 – $56,956
Median · 5 years out
$67,403
middle 50%: $54,600 – $78,995
Median · 10 years out
$87,596
middle 50%: $74,943 – $99,278
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
South Plains College offers certificates in Fire Protection with a median first-year salary of $46k. Ten-year earnings reach $88k, representing significant career growth.
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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,187 total interest
Same major at other universities
Trinity Valley Community College
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
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
Richland Community College
$67,204 · 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
Other majors at South Plains College
Engineering (Associate)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$81,251 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,278 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$72,172 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$66,891 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
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