Fire Protection at Butler Technology and Career Development Schools

Butler's fire protection certificate delivers slightly above-average earnings at substantially lower debt than most competing programs. With first-year earnings of $47,379 and just $6,607 in debt, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.14—meaning the typical certificate holder could realistically pay off their debt in less than two months of work. Among Ohio fire protection programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, outperforming the state median of $44,364.

The low debt burden is the real story here. While the program's debt sits in the 77th percentile nationally (meaning 77% of programs cost less), in absolute terms $6,607 is manageable for immediate entry into a career field. Fire protection careers often provide strong benefits and job security that aren't captured in raw earnings data. The earnings themselves are solid—roughly on par with the national median for this credential—though they're not exceptional.

The main caveat: this data comes from a small cohort of fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary more than usual. Still, the fundamental math works strongly in graduates' favor. For a student committed to fire protection work in Ohio, this certificate offers a low-risk path into the field without the debt burden that can complicate early-career finances.