Fire Protection Design Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Fire Protection Design Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Fire Protection Design Engineer in the United States is $79,721 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Fire Protection Design Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $96,625
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,710 to $88,569
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,506

Key Factors That Influence Fire Protection Design Engineer Salaries

A Fire Protection Design Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Fire Protection Design Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Fire Protection Design Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $80,347
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,463
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $121,393
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,556
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,050
Levels Salary
Fire Prot... Level Fire Protection Design Engineer$80,347
Sustainab... Level Fire Protection Design Engineer$105,463
Sustainab... Level Fire Protection Design Engineer$121,393
Sustainab... Level Fire Protection Design Engineer$128,556
Sustainab... Level Fire Protection Design Engineer$153,050

How Do Fire Protection Design Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Fire Protection Design Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $88,267.
  • California: $87,932.
  • Massachusetts: $86,760.

Top Paying Cities for Fire Protection Design Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $100,552
  • San Francisco: $99,451
  • Oakland: $97,355

What Skills Can Increase a Fire Protection Design Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.67% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Energy Efficiency (Mentioned in 1.06% Job Postings): Energy efficiency is the use of less energy to perform the same task or produce the same result. Energy efficient homes and buildings use less energy to heat, cool, and run appliances and electronics
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 0.85% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.67%
Energy Efficiency 1.06%
Microsoft Office 0.85%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Fire Protection Design Engineer's salary.

  • Process Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Benchmarking: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Consulting $90,085
13%
Insight $83,707
5%
Benchmarking $83,707
5%

Fire Protection Design Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Fire Protection Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Fire Protection Design Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Fire Protection Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Fire Protection Design Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$95,665$46.020%
Pharmaceuticals$95,665$46.020%
Biotechnology$91,679$44.015%
Insurance$91,679$44.015%
Aerospace & Defense$87,693$42.010%

Fire Protection Design Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Fire Protection Design Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$70,710
Average $79,721/year
$88,569
$5,893
Average $6,643/month
$7,381
$1,360
Average $1,533/week
$1,703
$34
Average $38/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $88,569 $7,381 $1,703 $43
Average $79,721 $6,643 $1,533 $38
25th Percentile $70,710 $5,893 $1,360 $34

Most common benefits for Fire Protection Design Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Fire Protection Design Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Fire Protection Design Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Fire Protection Design Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Fire Protection Design Engineer?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Fire Protection Design Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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