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The differences between fire protection engineers and fire protection specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fire protection engineer has an average salary of $82,467, which is higher than the $55,269 average annual salary of a fire protection specialist.
The top three skills for a fire protection engineer include fire protection, NFPA and revit. The most important skills for a fire protection specialist are fire protection, NFPA, and fire suppression.
| Fire Protection Engineer | Fire Protection Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $82,467 | $55,269 |
| Hourly rate | $39.65 | $26.57 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 13,105 | 12,968 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A fire protection engineer specializes in designing and developing procedures and systems that protect establishments and properties from fire damage. Their responsibilities include performing extensive research and analysis to identify the best practices in fire protection, coordinating with experts and designers, developing prototypes and test structures, and establishing safety guidelines. They may also conduct fire investigations, produce reports, and facilitate fire prevention training. Furthermore, a fire protection engineer must spearhead system installation activities, implementing the safety policies for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Fire Protection Specialists are the people who work on implementing systems for the protection of the people, buildings, wildlife, and environment from the effects of fire. A fire protection specialist inspects buildings, homes, and other places to assess the different fire hazards and how to prevent them. To be a fire protection specialist, many start by working or volunteering as a firefighter; some study fire science, fire safety, or any related programs. Adequate knowledge about fire safety, fire regulation, fire hazards are just some of the skills you must have to become a Fire Protection Specialist.
Fire protection engineers and fire protection specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fire Protection Engineer | Fire Protection Specialist | |
| Average salary | $82,467 | $55,269 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $110,000 | Between $37,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a fire protection engineer and a fire protection specialist in terms of educational background:
| Fire Protection Engineer | Fire Protection Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Fire Science And Protection |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between fire protection engineers' and fire protection specialists' demographics:
| Fire Protection Engineer | Fire Protection Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 11.6% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 9.6% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |