Also called: Fire Engineer (Design)
Designs sprinkler systems, smoke control, and escape routes so buildings are safe in a fire.
Fire protection engineers use computer models to predict how smoke moves through a stadium, design sprinkler and alarm systems, and review plans for skyscrapers and hospitals. It's a small, well-paid field where demand outruns graduates.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in fire protection or mechanical engineering; PE license.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering.
Growing about average. Health and safety engineers (approx.).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds smoke modeling and sprinkler layouts; the licensed engineer still judges and signs designs.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Chemistry, Drafting / CAD.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2111.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.