The median pay for Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers is $115,160 a year ($55.36/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.4% through 2035, with about 1,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 17-2111
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $115,160a year, or $55.36/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $68KTop 10% $171K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.4%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,20022,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202522.3K
- Projected 203523.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 22.3K Projected 2035 23.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's3.9%
- Bachelor's84.6%
- Post-bacc certificate3.9%
- Master's3.9%
- Doctorate3.9%
Highest education held by fire-prevention and protection engineers Segment Value Associate's 3.9% Bachelor's 84.6% Post-bacc certificate 3.9% Master's 3.9% Doctorate 3.9%
Also advertised as: Consulting Engineer, Engineer, Fire Protection Consultant, Fire Protection Engineer (FPE), Forensic Fire Protection Engineer, Licensed Fire Protection Engineer.
Pay
How much do Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers make?
Every fire-prevention and protection engineer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$115,160
Middle half earn $90,930 to $142,980
- 10th
- $68,420
- 25th
- $90,930
- 75th
- $142,980
- 90th
- $171,250
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,420 |
| 25th | $90,930 |
| Median | $115,160 |
| 75th | $142,980 |
| 90th | $171,250 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $115,160
- Median hourly wage
- $55.36/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $119,770
- People employed
- 21,450
Versus all US occupations
At $115,160, Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers earn 126% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $64,180 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110, this is 11% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $171,250 or more while the bottom 10% earn $68,420, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($131,540), but once local prices are taken into account Ohio leads at $139,651 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $131,540 | $118,804 | 2,470 |
| 2Massachusetts | $131,210 | $124,067 | 750 |
| 3New Hampshire | $130,500 | $125,282 | 80 |
| 4Ohio | $129,560 | $139,651 | 650 |
| 5Washington | $126,590 | $118,294 | 420 |
| 6Texas | $123,440 | $127,183 | 4,320 |
| 7Pennsylvania | $121,730 | $124,759 | 490 |
| 8Nevada | $121,660 | $121,686 | 80 |
| 9Colorado | $120,950 | $117,368 | 210 |
| 10Minnesota | $120,050 | $121,729 | 220 |
Job outlook
Is Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | +5.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers to change 5.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,200 openings are projected each year, 5.4% of the 22,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Health and safety engineers will be needed to help protect against potential hazards. As new regulations are created, organizations are expected to rely on these engineers for help in complying with requirements that safeguard people from illness and injury and property from damage.
Getting in
How to become a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer
Health and safety engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Completing internships or cooperative-education programs may be helpful for gaining hands-on experience while in school.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as fire-prevention and protection engineers.
- Bachelor's Degree84.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree3.9%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate3.9%
- Master's Degree3.9%
- Doctoral Degree3.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 84.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 3.9% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.9% |
| Master's Degree | 3.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 3.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer do?
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.
Health and safety engineers apply their knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, psychology, and other disciplines to promote worksite or product safety.
Day-to-day tasks
- Advise architects, builders, and other construction personnel on fire prevention equipment and techniques and on fire code and standard interpretation and compliance.
- 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.
- Attend workshops, seminars, or conferences to present or obtain information regarding fire prevention and protection.
- Develop training materials and conduct training sessions on fire protection.
- Design fire detection equipment, alarm systems, and fire extinguishing devices and systems.
- Direct the purchase, modification, installation, testing, maintenance, and operation of fire prevention and protection systems.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most health and safety engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where fire-prevention and protection engineers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Manufacturing22%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals12%
- Engineering services10%
- Construction9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 12% |
| Engineering services | 10% |
| Construction | 9% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.3
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Writing3.9
- Active Learning3.9
- Science3.6
- Mathematics3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Science | 3.6 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Systems Analysis3.9
- Systems Evaluation3.9
- Operations Analysis3.8
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Time Management3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.9 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.8 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Administration software
- Analytical or scientific software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic6.3
- Investigative5.2
- Conventional4.5
- Social2.8
- Enterprising2.8
- Artistic1.5
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer
O*NET related occupations
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist
$56,870median a year
Most earn $35K to $105K
+13.1%High school - Architecture and Engineering
Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
$115,160median a year
Most earn $68K to $171K
+5.4%Bachelor's - Protective Service
First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
$93,530median a year
Most earn $53K to $140K
+3.7%Certificate - Protective Service
- Construction and Extraction
More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with fire-prevention and protection engineers highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer$115,160
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer | $115,160 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer appears on
Questions
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers make?
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers earn a median of $115,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 126% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $55.36/hr. The middle half earn between $90,930 and $142,980. The top 10% earn $171,250 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 84.6% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.4% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer do?
Health and safety engineers apply their knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, psychology, and other disciplines to promote worksite or product safety. A core O*NET task: advise architects, builders, and other construction personnel on fire prevention equipment and techniques and on fire code and standard interpretation and compliance. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Office suite software, Operating system software.
Which states pay Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers are California ($131,540), Massachusetts ($131,210), New Hampshire ($130,500) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Ohio moves to the top at $139,651.
What personality type suits a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer?
O*NET scores Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.