First responder training by state
2,561 first responder programs in 5 fields of public safety, with costs, results and funding that can make them free
957 schools offer these programs in 46 states and 1 territory, and each state on this page approved its programs for workforce funding. Compare the 5 fields below, or pick a state on the map or in the table to see its programs side by side.
First responder training covers the people who come when you call 911: EMT and paramedic classes, police and corrections academies and fire academies, along with criminal justice and fire science certificates and degrees. It also takes in security guard training.
Compare first responder programs across the US: cost, pay and results
1,210 programs in 49 states and 2 territories
- Most cost
- $1,275 to $6,862
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $40,000
- Working 6 months later
- 82%
- Finished
- 73%
557 programs in 41 states and 1 territory
- Most cost
- $5,168 to $11,310
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $31,500
- Working 6 months later
- 77%
- Finished
- 34%
338 programs in 28 states
- Most cost
- $1,985 to $5,295
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $45,200
- Working 6 months later
- 88%
- Finished
- 82%
337 programs in 34 states
- Most cost
- $1,417 to $6,827
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $40,200
- Working 6 months later
- 81%
- Finished
- 71%
119 programs in 19 states
- Most cost
- $285 to $2,100
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $32,700
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- 99%
Each figure is the middle program of that field across the US. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted. How these figures are made
First responder training by state: cost, pay and results
| State | Programs | Most cost | Earned a year, estimated | Working 6 months later | Finished |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 13 | $4,800 to $18,000 | about $56,000 | 82% | 86% |
| Arizona | 58 | $2,958 to $6,800 | about $41,100 | 100% | 50% |
| Arkansas | 63 | $2,925 to $10,657 | about $38,200 | 70% | 39% |
| California | 175 | $612 to $2,025 | about $37,100 | 75% | 90% |
| Colorado | 100 | $1,481 to $8,320 | about $48,600 | 64% | 63% |
| Connecticut | 7 | $299 to $1,388 | about $29,400 | 69% | 99% |
| Delaware | 3 | Too few figures to show | |||
| Florida | 133 | $1,925 to $4,421 | about $44,400 | 87% | 87% |
| Georgia | 96 | $2,268 to $7,428 | about $27,400 | 83% | 33% |
| Hawaii | 6 | $5,562 to $10,462 | about $27,300 | 84% | 48% |
| Idaho | 5 | $3,000 to $9,070 | Not reported | Left out | 77% |
| Illinois | 98 | Left out | Not enough data | Not enough data | Left out |
| Indiana | 58 | $1,175 to $1,641 | about $34,600 | 77% | 69% |
| Iowa | 33 | $3,030 to $13,500 | about $38,300 | 85% | 35% |
| Kansas | 15 | $1,448 to $4,225 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 82% |
| Kentucky | 30 | $2,263 to $11,407 | about $24,300 | 77% | 46% |
| Louisiana | 33 | $1,995 to $9,460 | about $29,400 | Left out | Left out |
| Maine | 19 | $1,128 to $4,896 | about $29,800 | 75% | 71% |
| Maryland | 16 | $2,637 to $5,510 | about $33,700 | 80% | 65% |
| Massachusetts | 5 | $2,144 to $2,850 | Not reported | Not reported | Not enough data |
| Michigan | 135 | $3,008 to $11,293 | about $42,800 | 83% | 62% |
| Minnesota | 110 | $2,713 to $10,201 | about $33,600 | 81% | 44% |
| Mississippi | 36 | $697 to $4,759 | about $51,400 | 92% | Left out |
| Missouri | 137 | $4,251 to $11,543 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Montana | 5 | $1,410 to $19,523 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Nebraska | 26 | $5,692 to $7,756 | about $31,500 | 77% | 41% |
| Nevada | 25 | $918 to $6,290 | Not enough data | Left out | 91% |
| New Hampshire | 12 | $892 to $3,728 | about $20,300 | Left out | 86% |
| New Jersey | 4 | Too few figures to show | |||
| New Mexico | 55 | $1,628 to $6,297 | about $42,100 | 73% | Left out |
| New York | 22 | $420 to $1,308 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| North Carolina | 142 | $212 to $4,996 | about $42,700 | 81% | 40% |
| North Dakota | 11 | $1,524 to $15,882 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Ohio | 232 | $1,329 to $7,162 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Oklahoma | 59 | $1,290 to $5,122 | about $35,500 | Left out | 97% |
| Oregon | 19 | $7,069 to $13,027 | about $42,100 | 100% | 25% |
| Pennsylvania | 30 | $925 to $7,900 | Not enough data | Left out | 75% |
| Puerto Rico | 9 | $7,085 to $17,615 | about $11,900 | Left out | Left out |
| South Carolina | 3 | Too few figures to show | |||
| South Dakota | 10 | $4,527 to $18,018 | Not enough data | Left out | 69% |
| Tennessee | 71 | $2,709 to $8,118 | about $41,500 | 90% | 76% |
| Texas | 121 | $2,814 to $7,607 | about $34,500 | 79% | 62% |
| Utah | 27 | $1,188 to $6,270 | about $37,000 | Left out | 86% |
| Virginia | 56 | $1,092 to $8,955 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 100% |
| Washington | 90 | $1,312 to $8,990 | about $36,800 | 90% | 69% |
| Wisconsin | 105 | $1,221 to $10,010 | about $37,700 | 83% | 62% |
| Wyoming | 15 | $2,550 to $5,772 | Not enough data | Left out | Not enough data |
Each figure is the middle program in that state, all public safety fields together. Open a state to compare its fields.
Other job training by line of work
- Trade school programs13,156
- IT certification programs7,854
- Business and office training7,270
- Medical certification programs7,167
- Nursing and patient care programs4,782
- Allied health programs3,572
- Transportation and logistics training3,558
- Child care and social services training1,952
- Beauty school1,043
- Culinary and hospitality programs900
Programs approved across the US in each line of work.
Where the first responder numbers come from
Which programs are counted?
Programs approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).5 They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing.
What the figures mean
Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, it says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means). Some states' figures carry a note on their own pages.
Sources for the funding facts about first responder programs
Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources
- US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
- US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
- Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
- US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
- US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List