Fire Protection at Southern Maine Community College
ME · Associate's Degree · CIP 43.02
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Fire Protection degree from Southern Maine Community College earn a median salary of $69,033 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in ME, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $60,662. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.9 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$50,282
Typical Career
$69,033
Top Performers
$88,664
Estimated break-even: 6.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$460
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,753. Most students can comfortably afford about a $460 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.8x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Maine buys what costs $1.14 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Accommodation & Food Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$60,662
Nominal: $69,033 in Maine (COL 113.8% of national avg) · 12.1% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $29,502 | $45,979 | $66,474 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $50,282 | $69,033 | $88,664 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $59,105 | $77,273 | $96,524 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $69,033 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in ME, which has a cost-of-living index of 113.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $69,033 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1380)
= $60,662 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
In terms of industry placement, a significant portion of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, accounting for 32.3%, while Manufacturing comprises 17.5%. This diverse industry engagement suggests a robust job market for graduates. The estimated break-even point for those pursuing this path compared to a high-school-only education is approximately 6.9 years, indicating a favorable return on investment for students who complete the program. Overall, the Fire Protection program offers a solid career path with promising financial returns and industry opportunities.
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Other Degrees at Southern Maine Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.