Fire Protection (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Manatee Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,952

Est. from FL median (10 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$9,557

Est. from FL median (5 programs)

Analysis

The estimated debt load here—around $9,600—looks manageable against projected first-year earnings near $47,000, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20 that's quite reasonable for a technical credential. Similar fire protection programs across Florida suggest graduates typically earn in the mid-to-high $40,000s initially, which aligns closely with what you'd expect from this certificate. With roughly three-quarters of certificate programs in this field nationwide earning less than $49,800 in year one, Manatee Technical appears positioned in the middle of the pack.

The challenge is that several Florida community colleges with reported outcomes show their fire protection graduates earning $50,000 to $56,000—meaningfully more than what peer programs suggest for Manatee Technical. St. Petersburg College graduates, for instance, earn about $8,900 more annually right out of the gate. That gap matters when you're comparing options within the same state and field. Fire protection is generally a solid career path with stable demand, but where you train appears to influence starting salary more than you might expect for a technical certification.

For parents weighing this investment, the debt burden shouldn't keep anyone up at night, but the earnings uncertainty should prompt a closer look. Connect directly with Manatee Technical's career services to understand their specific placement rates and employer relationships in the local fire protection industry—those connections may explain whether graduates here match their higher-earning peers or fall short.

Where Manatee Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all fire protection certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Fire Protection certificate's programs at peer institutions in Florida (32 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Manatee Technical CollegeBradenton	—	$46,952*	—	$9,557*	—
St Petersburg CollegeSt. Petersburg	$2,682	$55,829*	—	$9,557*	0.17
Northwest Florida State CollegeNiceville	$3,246	$52,856*	—	—*	—
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa	$2,506	$50,331*	$58,626	$14,735*	0.29
Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville	$2,878	$49,810*	—	—*	—
Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce	$2,764	$47,206*	$49,227	$5,500*	0.12
National Median	—	$47,024*	—	$9,557*	0.20

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with fire protection graduates

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.

$75,480/yrJobs growth:

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.

$75,480/yrJobs growth:

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.

$62,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Firefighters

Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

$59,530/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Manatee Technical College, approximately 28% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 10 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.