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The differences between fire protection engineers and safety engineers 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 $74,228 average annual salary of a safety engineer.
The top three skills for a fire protection engineer include fire protection, NFPA and revit. The most important skills for a safety engineer are OSHA, safety standards, and safety program.
| Fire Protection Engineer | Safety Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,467 | $74,228 |
| Hourly rate | $39.65 | $35.69 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 13,105 | 16,617 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
The duties of a safety engineer depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the implementation of the safety policies and regulations in a company by conducting regular inspections and maintenance checks, coordinating with department personnel to gather data, assessing risks, and arranging precautionary measures. A safety engineer must also address issues and concerns, responding to them in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, there are instances when they have to lead safety orientations and seminars to maintain a safe and productive environment for everyone.
Fire protection engineers and safety engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fire Protection Engineer | Safety Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,467 | $74,228 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $110,000 | Between $49,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a fire protection engineer and a safety engineer in terms of educational background:
| Fire Protection Engineer | Safety Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between fire protection engineers' and safety engineers' demographics:
| Fire Protection Engineer | Safety Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |