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The differences between fire protection engineers and senior fire protection engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior fire protection engineer has an average salary of $97,290, which is higher than the $82,467 average annual salary of a fire protection engineer.
The top three skills for a fire protection engineer include fire protection, NFPA and revit. The most important skills for a senior fire protection engineer are fire protection, NFPA, and project management.
| Fire Protection Engineer | Senior Fire Protection Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,467 | $97,290 |
| Hourly rate | $39.65 | $46.77 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 13,105 | 13,102 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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.
As a senior fire protection engineer, you need to study the architecture and design of the infrastructure properly so that you can suggest various methods of protecting it from fires. You need to work on the fire prevention methods of the infrastructure so that you can save thousands of lives. You need to do extensive study on fire science and engineering in a mechanical or structural course. You need to spend a lot of time between architects and interior designers so that they can provide you with much knowledge regarding the infrastructure and construction of buildings.
Also, you need to focus on engineering design and installation. You have to be aware of the various fire prevention systems such as fire alarm or sprinkler systems and be able to install the fire alarms and suppression systems in buildings. You also need to create evacuation portals and stairwells within the company. To qualify for this position, a bachelor's in fire science and engineering is a must.
Fire protection engineers and senior fire protection engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fire Protection Engineer | Senior Fire Protection Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,467 | $97,290 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $110,000 | Between $63,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | West Virginia |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | Technip USA Corporation |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a fire protection engineer and a senior fire protection engineer in terms of educational background:
| Fire Protection Engineer | Senior Fire Protection Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Fire Science And Protection |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between fire protection engineers' and senior fire protection engineers' demographics:
| Fire Protection Engineer | Senior Fire Protection Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% |
| 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, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 13.5% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |