Fire Protection Engineer Career Guide

Fire Protection Engineer

M-03

M Other Inspection and code jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 17-2111.02

Texas median whole occupation, 2025: $123,440
work over 40 h a week: 69%
load index from O*NET data: 2.0/5
Texas jobs 2024 to 2034: +11.9%

Pay

This level's pay

No published pay record names this level: no public record found in sources S1-S7 that names this rung. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.

All pay records and context (3)

DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $92,142 · Level II $106,700 · Level III $140,400 · Level IV $210,594 (18 filings, TX) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $105,250 · Level II $110,345 · Level IV $135,824 (5 filings, AZ) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Engineer I $61,184 to $99,658 · Engineer II $65,104 to $106,634 · Engineer III $69,572 to $114,099 · Engineer IV $76,530 to $129,430 · Engineer V $84,182 to $142,374 · Engineer VI $92,600 to $156,612 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source

Whole occupation: Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (17-2111), Texas
BLS OEWS May 2025
Series OEUS480000000000017211113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
Based on an estimated 4,320 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017211101).

Half of all Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers in Texas earn more than $123,440; the bottom 10% earned less than $82,340 and the top 10% more than $180,480 (May 2025, base pay, about 4,320 jobs). U.S. median $115,160.

Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers, not level-specific
TWC, BLS
Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03

Texas: +11.9% jobs · about 220 openings a year (3,040 jobs in 2024)
United States: +4.6% jobs · about 1,500 openings a year (23,800 jobs in 2024)

Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.

Hours
ONET 31.0
Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), ONET Work Context, data 08/2025, n = 26 respondents, O*NET OnLine

About 7 in 10 work more than 40 hours a week (69%).

Schedule: regular 65% · irregular 35% · seasonal 0%

Physical load 2.0 of 5, our index from ONET
Method
Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.91, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.99, 7 measures), built from ONET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
O*NET OnLine

Body

Standing2.32
Walking or running2.04
Climbing ladders1.92
Kneeling or crawling1.84
Bending or twisting1.76
Keeping balance1.58

Exposure

Outdoors, all weather2.46
Very hot or cold2.04
Hazardous conditions2.04
High places1.96
Protective gear1.85
Cramped space1.81
Hazardous equipment1.77

Body 1.91 · exposure 1.99. O*NET Work Context means, 1 = never, 5 = continually or every day.

Getting in

License: Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work.
Degree: 96% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Bachelor's Degree
Experience: None of related experience is the most common answer (31% of workers).
O*NET
O*NET Related Work Experience, Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers, O*NET OnLine
Preparation: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Why this level: Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 4 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).

Moves to the side 6

M Safety Engineer O*NET lists Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.80.
I Environmental Engineer O*NET lists Environmental Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.89.
M Fire Inspector O*NET lists Fire Inspectors and Investigators as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.72. License gate: Basic Inspector certification (TCFP), required for employed and appointed fire inspectors.
M1 Electrical Inspector O*NET lists Construction and Building Inspectors as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.86.

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What the work is 6 core tasks

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.

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.
Prepare and write reports detailing specific fire prevention and protection issues, such as work performed, revised codes or standards, and proposed review schedules.
Review building plans to verify compliance with fire code.
Consult with authorities to discuss safety regulations and to recommend changes as necessary.

Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.

Top skills

Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Active Learning
Active Listening
Systems Analysis

Sources (4)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000017211113, read 2026-10-03
Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 17-2111.02 Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers, read 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. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license

Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.

Fire Protection Engineer