by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fire Protection](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/fire-protection/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their fire protection graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying fire protection schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose fire protection graduates go on to earn the most.
Santa Rosa Junior College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying fire protection schools in California. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Fire Protection graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of about $91,630 a year early in their careers.
Mt San Antonio College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fire protection, landing the #2 spot this year. Mt San Antonio College is a public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Fire Protection graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of about $86,031 a year early in their careers.
Modesto Junior College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fire protection, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a public institution. Fire Protection graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of about $50,364 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in fire protection will find them at Santa Ana College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a public institution. After graduating, fire protection degree recipients from Santa Ana College typically earn about $114,446 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in fire protection will find them at California State University Los Angeles, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the fire protection program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,683.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries fire protection graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.