Engineers

How to become a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer

Official title: Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers

Also called: Consulting Engineer, Engineer, Fire Protection Consultant, Fire Protection Engineer (FPE), Forensic Fire Protection Engineer, Licensed Fire Protection Engineer, Professional Fire Protection Engineer

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Health and safety engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. Completing an internship or cooperative-education program may be helpful for gaining hands-on experience while in school.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 46 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $115,160 a year The middle half earn $90,930 to $142,980.
About 22,300 people work in this job now, and about 23,500 are projected by 2035. (+5.4%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer?

How much does a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $115,160 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $90,930 to $142,980.

Is a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 22,300 to about 23,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer?

Usually. 77% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.