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.
SOC: 17-2111.02
Common Job Titles
Consulting Engineer
Engineer
Fire Protection Consultant
Fire Protection Engineer (FP Engineer)
What You'll Need to Succeed
AI-generated
Key competencies for this occupation at a glance
KnowledgeEvaluate building fire safety systems for compliance with fire protection codes and standards using fire dynamics simulation software and regulatory frameworks.
Advanced
KnowledgeDesign fire detection, suppression, and alarm systems for new construction and retrofit projects using CAD software and computational fluid dynamics modeling tools.
Advanced
KnowledgeFormulate evacuation strategies and egress design solutions integrating human behavior modeling, fire growth predictions, and building code requirements.
Advanced
KnowledgeAnalyze fire hazards and ignition sources in commercial and industrial facilities applying physics, chemistry, and engineering principles to determine risk factors.
Proficient
Hands-onPerform field inspections of fire protection equipment and structural fire safety features using specialized test equipment including calorimeters, heat flux transducers, and flame spread testers.
Proficient
KnowledgeInterpret fire simulation data and test results to predict fire behavior and system performance for diverse stakeholders including architects, building owners, and regulatory authorities.
Proficient
MindsetAdvocate fire safety improvements and code compliance strategies with organizational leadership and external clients balancing life safety priorities with cost constraints and operational requirements.
Proficient
KnowledgeAssess fire resistance and thermal performance of building materials and structural components conducting laboratory testing and applying mathematical modeling techniques.
Proficient
KnowledgeDevelop comprehensive fire protection engineering reports and technical specifications documenting risk assessments, design rationale, and compliance strategies for regulatory approval.
Proficient
MindsetSupport interdisciplinary project teams in integrating fire safety measures into overall building design collaborating with architects, mechanical engineers, and construction managers throughout project lifecycle.
Proficient
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
23,220
Wage Distribution by Percentile
Line chart of annual wages by percentile. U.S. is the solid line. 10th percentile: U.S. $62,050. 25th percentile: U.S. $85,400. 50th percentile: U.S. $109,660. 75th percentile: U.S. $136,150. 90th percentile: U.S. $166,670. Use the left and right arrow keys to move between percentiles.
U.S.
Metric
U.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less
$62,050
10% of workers earn the following or more
$166,670
Workers on average earn
$113,770
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
Engineering and Technology4.7/5
Design4.7/5
Building and Construction4.4/5
Mathematics4.2/5
English Language4.1/5
Skills & Requirements: Knowledge
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings
Autodesk AutoCAD
Autodesk Revit
Bentley MicroStation
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Word
Technology Skills
A Large Outdoor Fire plume Trajectory model Flat Terrain ALOFT-FT
ANSYS simulation software
Analysis of Smoke Control Systems ASCOS
Atria smoke management engineering tools ASMET
Available Safe Egress Time ASET
Berkeley Algorithm for Breaking Window Glass in a Compartment Fire BREAK1
