Certificate (under 1 year)-2% vs national median248 grads tracked
Fire Protection at Wharton County Junior College
Ranked 31st of 64 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,368
middle 50%: $25,031 – $50,818
Median · 5 years out
$69,441
middle 50%: $48,556 – $87,839
Median · 10 years out
$84,159
middle 50%: $63,394 – $108,696
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 a median salary of $36k in their first year. Earnings increase to $69k after five 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
6.6 yrs
≈ $7,957 total interest
Same major at other universities
Odessa College
$72,258 · 5 yrs out
Oakton College
$71,899 · 5 yrs out
Northland Community and Technical College
$71,084 · 5 yrs out
College of the Mainland
$71,068 · 5 yrs out
Trinity Valley Community College
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
Casper College
$70,497 · 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
Richland Community College
$67,204 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$66,990 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Wharton County Junior College
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$147,658 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$140,234 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$133,973 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$86,887 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$74,416 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$72,884 · 5 yrs out
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate)
$71,728 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate)
$67,476 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$65,590 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$62,871 · 5 yrs out
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