WhatGradsMake
Associate-4% vs national median169 grads tracked

Fire Protection at Tidewater Community College

Ranked 61st of 101 associate programs in Fire Protection by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$71,182
middle 50%: $52,202 – $88,059
Median · 5 years out
$78,072
middle 50%: $59,848 – $103,633
Median · 10 years out
$88,299
middle 50%: $71,084 – $116,180

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 Tidewater Community College's associate program in Fire Protection earn a median $71,182 one year after graduating, rising to $88,299 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% below the national median of $81,295 for this field, ranking 61st 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
4.8 yrs
≈ $4,988 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
Richland Community College
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
Hocking Technical College
$78,372 · 5 yrs out
Central Oregon Community College
$78,278 · 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
Elgin Community College
$75,786 · 5 yrs out
Blinn College
$75,548 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University at Eunice
$75,224 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Tidewater Community College

Engineering (Associate)
$81,090 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$81,090 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$80,325 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,996 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$72,218 · 5 yrs out
Visual and Performing Arts (Certificate)
$70,012 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$69,841 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$69,536 · 5 yrs out

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