Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers: Job Description
Research causes of fires, determine fire protection methods, and design or recommend materials or equipment such as structural components or fire-detection equipment to assist organizations in safeguarding life and property against fire, explosion, and related hazards.
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What Tasks Do Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers Take On?
The core tasks performed by fire-prevention and protection engineers include:
- Advise architects, builders, and other construction personnel on fire prevention equipment and techniques and on fire code and standard interpretation and compliance.
- Design fire detection equipment, alarm systems, and fire extinguishing devices and systems.
- Inspect buildings or building designs to determine fire protection system requirements and potential problems in areas such as water supplies, exit locations, and construction materials.
- Review building plans to verify compliance with fire code.
- Prepare and write reports detailing specific fire prevention and protection issues, such as work performed, revised codes or standards, and proposed review schedules.
- Consult with authorities to discuss safety regulations and to recommend changes as necessary.
- Evaluate fire department performance and the laws and regulations affecting fire prevention or fire safety.
- Direct the purchase, modification, installation, testing, maintenance, and operation of fire prevention and protection systems.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful fire-prevention and protection engineers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Consulting Engineer
- Engineer
- Fire Alarm Systems Technician (Fire Alarm Systems Tech)
- Fire Prevention Research Engineer
- Fire Protection Commissioning Engineer
- Fire Protection Consultant
- Fire Protection Design Engineer
- Fire Protection Designer
Employment and Demand
There are about 337,105 fire-prevention and protection engineers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -0.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $122,967 |
| Hourly median | $59.12 |
| 10th percentile | $83,860 |
| 25th percentile | $103,414 |
| 75th percentile | $142,520 |
| 90th percentile | $162,074 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $135,810 |
| Massachusetts | $131,500 |
| Oregon | $128,760 |
| California | $125,410 |
| Texas | $123,020 |
| Washington | $121,730 |
| Iowa | $121,520 |
| New York | $119,030 |
| Delaware | $117,250 |
| Ohio | $117,080 |
| Tennessee | $115,190 |
| Minnesota | $113,460 |
| New Jersey | $112,330 |
| Colorado | $112,140 |
| Louisiana | $111,190 |
| Arizona | $109,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $109,660 |
| Illinois | $108,530 |
| Maryland | $106,310 |
| Alabama | $106,130 |
| Georgia | $105,440 |
| Kansas | $105,010 |
| Nebraska | $104,010 |
| Utah | $102,980 |
| Alaska | $101,720 |
| Virginia | $101,680 |
| Oklahoma | $99,490 |
| Florida | $99,340 |
| Kentucky | $98,200 |
| Indiana | $97,630 |
| Michigan | $96,930 |
| Idaho | $96,090 |
| Nevada | $95,840 |
| Connecticut | $95,160 |
| North Carolina | $94,070 |
| West Virginia | $93,440 |
| South Carolina | $92,150 |
| Maine | $91,480 |
| Mississippi | $87,230 |
| Arkansas | $86,970 |
| New Mexico | $86,880 |
| Wisconsin | $84,250 |
| Montana | $82,900 |
| Guam | $76,590 |
| Hawaii | $74,410 |
| Missouri | $73,840 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for fire-prevention and protection engineers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $122,783 | 17.3% | 1.06 |
| Southwest | $115,014 | 19.9% | 1.93 |
| Middle Atlantic | $114,055 | 18.3% | 1.23 |
| New England | $111,989 | 4.1% | 0.99 |
| Plains States | $103,034 | 4.1% | 0.64 |
| Rocky Mountains | $101,963 | 3.6% | 1.23 |
| Southeast | $100,690 | 21.3% | 0.98 |
| Great Lakes | $98,294 | 11.1% | 1.33 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $147,060 | 30 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $141,600 | 120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $138,780 | 210 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $132,140 | 180 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $131,520 | 440 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | LA | $129,910 | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $129,580 | 250 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $128,890 | 150 |
Top Industries Employing Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
The bulk of fire-prevention and protection engineers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5,630 | $109,740 |
| Manufacturing | 5,470 | $109,030 |
| Construction | 2,220 | $99,440 |
| Finance and Insurance | 970 | $124,970 |
| Information | 900 | $109,660 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 860 | $125,780 |
| Wholesale Trade | 580 | $107,970 |
| Utilities | 570 | $121,940 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of fire-prevention and protection engineers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Entry-level fire-prevention and protection engineers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Emergency Management Directors (Supplemental)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (Supplemental)
- Security Management Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Penetration Testers (Supplemental)
- Civil Engineers (Supplemental)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineers (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring fire-prevention and protection engineers often complete programs in:
Engineering
2 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-2111.02 (Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors).
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