In 2005, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers conducted a salary and benefits survey of the fire protection engineering profession. The median total income, including bonuses, in 2004 for those survey respondents who reported having 1-2 years working in fire protection engineering was $55,500. For those respondents with 24 or more years experience in fire protection engineering, the median income was $110,000.

In every category of years experience in fire protection engineering, the median income was higher for those survey respondents with a Masters degree. For example, the median income for those with a Masters degree and 2-4 years experience was $70,000 compared to $59,000 for those respondents with a Bachelors degree. The median income for those respondents who had earned a degree in fire protection engineering is similar to those who had earned another type of engineering degree.

For those respondents who are CEOs, principals or mangers, their median income for 2004 was higher in every category as compared to those who are a consultant, project or program engineer, or have a technical position. For example for respondents with 8-10 years experience, the median income for a CEO, principal or manger was $100,000. For those in the other job category with the same year’s experience, the median income was $79,000.

For more information, download the executive summary of SFPE's Salary Survey.

For more information about careers in fire protection engineering, see other parts of this website or contact chris@sfpe.org. Or, for more information about the Fire Protection Engineering profession, visit www.sfpe.org.