SOC 17-2111.02Bright outlook

    Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers

    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.

    Median pay
    $115,160
    Growth
    +5.4%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    1,200
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors"

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $68,420
    Median
    $115,160
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $171,250
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    21,450 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Fire-prevention and protection engineers design systems and materials to safeguard lives and property from fire and explosions. The median annual pay for this profession is $115,160.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What fire-prevention and protection engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    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.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    These professionals focus on researching fire causes, determining safety methods, and designing protective equipment or structural components. On a daily basis, they evaluate information to ensure compliance with safety standards, solve complex problems, and draft technical specifications for fire-detection devices. The role requires working extensively with computers, gathering information, and communicating with both internal teams and external organizations.

    To succeed in this field, individuals need strong skills in critical thinking, complex problem solving, and systems analysis. They must apply knowledge of engineering, building construction, design, mathematics, physics, and chemistry. A realistic interest area is highly beneficial, as the work is practical and hands-on. Key work styles include attention to detail, cautiousness, dependability, and intellectual curiosity, which help engineers safely navigate public safety and security challenges.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree. Most professionals need several years of related work experience in addition to their college education. Relevant college majors that lead to this field include engineering, environmental or environmental health engineering, and other related engineering programs.

    Because this is classified as an occupation requiring considerable preparation, candidates must develop a strong foundation in technical design and safety standards. Additionally, some states list a license for this work, which may require passing professional exams and gaining supervised experience.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these engineers is $115,160, though this figure represents the broader occupational group of health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors. Within this group, the lowest 10 percent earn less than $68,420, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $171,250. There are 21,450 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 5.4 percent, which is faster than average. This growth is expected to result in 1,200 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    89 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    70 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    8 / 100
    Social (S)
    31 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    30 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    58 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RIC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    91
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    87
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    85
    Getting Information
    84
    Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
    80
    Working with Computers
    80
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    79
    Processing Information
    75
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    74
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    73
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Active Learning
    • Active Listening
    • Systems Analysis
    • Systems Evaluation
    • Writing

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Building and Construction
    • Design
    • Mathematics
    • Public Safety and Security
    • English Language
    • Physics
    • Chemistry
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Mechanical

    Abilities

    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Category Flexibility
    • Information Ordering

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Cautiousness
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Innovation
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Perseverance
    • Adaptability
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    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 · Fire Protection Engineer (FPE) · Fire Safety Engineer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to fire-prevention and protection engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers$115,160 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Stanford University logo
      Stanford University

      Stanford, CA · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $72,063
      4 yrs after
      $115,206
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2Northeastern University logo
      Northeastern University

      Boston, MA · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $84,093
      4 yrs after
      $112,019
      Median debt
      $21,500
    3. 3Louisiana Tech University logo
      Louisiana Tech University

      Ruston, LA · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $64,275
      4 yrs after
      $105,080
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4
      California State University-Chico

      Chico, CA · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $103,272
      Median debt
      Not reported
    5. 5Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $61,084
      4 yrs after
      $103,016
      Median debt
      $8,000
    6. 6California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO logo
      California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO

      San Luis Obispo, CA · Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $79,657
      4 yrs after
      $102,702
      Median debt
      $16,109
    7. 7
      Ohio State University-Main Campus

      Columbus, OH · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $83,095
      4 yrs after
      $97,144
      Median debt
      $19,071
    8. 8Oregon State University logo
      Oregon State University

      Corvallis, OR · Engineering, Other · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $94,278
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What fire-prevention and protection engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Engineering, Other
    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    50 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Questions about fire-prevention and protection engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this field are also called fire protection engineers, fire safety engineers, fire protection consultants, and fire prevention research engineers. Some may also work under titles like fire alarm systems technicians or fire protection designers.

    What kind of education do I need to become a fire-prevention engineer?

    You typically need a bachelor's degree to enter this field. Useful college majors include engineering, environmental or environmental health engineering, or other general engineering disciplines.

    Is a license required to practice in this field?

    Some states list a license for this work. Requirements vary by location, so candidates should check the specific guidelines of the state where they plan to practice.

    What is the job outlook for this profession?

    Employment is projected to grow 5.4 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than average. This growth is expected to generate about 1,200 job openings each year.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.