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How to hire a fire protection engineer

Fire protection engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring fire protection engineers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a fire protection engineer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new fire protection engineer to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a fire protection engineer, step by step

To hire a fire protection engineer, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a fire protection engineer:

Here's a step-by-step fire protection engineer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a fire protection engineer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new fire protection engineer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a fire protection engineer do?

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what a fire protection engineer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a fire protection engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect fire protection engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list shows salaries for various types of fire protection engineers.

    Type of Fire Protection EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Fire Protection EngineerHealth and safety engineers develop procedures and design systems to prevent people from getting sick or injured and to keep property from being damaged. They combine knowledge of systems engineering and of health and safety to make sure that chemicals, machinery, software, furniture, and other consumer products will not cause harm to people or damage to buildings.$29-52
    Fire Sprinkler DesignerA fire sprinkler designer is in charge of designing and developing sprinkler systems to prevent or aid fire. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis, utilizing feedback from customers and other experts, producing prototypes or samples, and coordinating with engineers and technicians... Show more$19-38
    EngineerEngineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more$31-62
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Fire Protection
    • NFPA
    • Revit
    • Plumbing
    • DOE
    • Fire Suppression Systems
    • Safety Codes
    • Calculation
    • Life Safety Systems
    • Fire Code
    • Project Management
    • Fire Detection
    • Shop Drawings
    • Hazardous Materials
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
    • Add an encryption policy that is missing in the remaining offsite tapes using built-in EMC tools.
    • Monitor devices and troubleshoot performance issues.
    • Draft new layouts develop by MEP designers.
    • Configure Lanfree configuration on UNIX (Aix/Linux/HP_UX).
    • Ensure compliance with NERC, WECC and company policies.
    More fire protection engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your fire protection engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A fire protection engineer salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, fire protection engineers' average salary in oklahoma is 45% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level fire protection engineers earn 45% less than senior-level fire protection engineers.
    • Certifications. A fire protection engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a fire protection engineer's salary.

    Average fire protection engineer salary

    $82,467yearly

    $39.65 hourly rate

    Entry-level fire protection engineer salary
    $61,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 25, 2025

    Average fire protection engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$120,905$58
    2New Mexico$108,473$52
    3Nevada$106,610$51
    4Ohio$102,636$49
    5Kentucky$101,364$49
    6District of Columbia$97,977$47
    7Tennessee$95,871$46
    8Arizona$94,593$45
    9Colorado$90,948$44
    10Washington$90,879$44
    11Alaska$90,221$43
    12New Jersey$90,208$43
    13Texas$86,489$42
    14Massachusetts$86,068$41
    15New York$83,783$40
    16Missouri$79,723$38
    17Virginia$79,435$38
    18Illinois$78,508$38
    19South Carolina$78,033$38
    20Maryland$74,920$36

    Average fire protection engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Sandia National Labs$110,175$52.972
    2Tesla$96,417$46.357
    3Los Alamos National Laboratory$95,302$45.823
    4S.A. Comunale Co.$93,728$45.062
    5Country-Wide Insurance$92,388$44.42
    6Westinghouse Appliances Australia$92,098$44.282
    7Parsons$90,796$43.652
    8Energy Northwest$90,136$43.33
    9Hilti$90,064$43.304
    10Constellation Energy Partners$89,490$43.022
    11Insurance Incorporated$88,943$42.76
    12Burns & McDonnell$86,725$41.6915
    13BWX Technologies$85,364$41.04
    14Exponent$84,642$40.692
    15Fluor Corporation$84,286$40.526
    16Ross & Baruzzini$84,214$40.49
    17RG Vanderweil$83,885$40.333
    18Swanson Rink Inc$83,421$40.11
    19Michael Baker$83,306$40.052
    20Jacobs Engineering Group$83,276$40.04
  4. Writing a fire protection engineer job description

    A fire protection engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a fire protection engineer job description:

    Fire protection engineer job description example

    The working environments include office, manufacturing sites and laboratory settings. Overnight travel, to confer and work with customers, attend technical conferences and to conduct and monitor tests, is typically less than 20% of time.



    Qualifications:

    BS plus 3 years minimum related experience (or MS in technical area)

    Degrees in fire protection, fluid mechanics, electrical or mechanical engineering; knowledge of, or employment in, fire protection equipment, pumps, valves, or related research, design or manufacturing industry experience is preferred.

    Successful candidate should have demonstrated project management skills, superior written and verbal communication skills, and computer proficiency with programs such as Word, Excel and Outlook. Professional registration and / or knowledge of FM Global loss prevention guidelines preferred.

    Candidate must possess outstanding relationship management skills including:

    • Exceptional customer service skills (both orally and in writing)

    • Excellent communication skills (both orally and in writing)

    • Active listening skills to understand the points being made when someone else is speaking and giving full attention to the speaker

    • Effective speaking skills to convey direction, information and technical concepts

    • Ability to work effectively as a strong and supportive member of a team

    • Demonstrated skill in organizing work, setting priorities and planning

    Candidate should have a good ability to analyze facts, draw conclusions, and find problem solutions.

    Familiarity with third party product certification and industry standards such as FM Approvals, ISO, NFPA, or other international fire protection standards is preferred.

    Ability to travel domestically and internationally for up to 2 weeks at a time.

    Candidate must have the ability to read, write and speak English proficiently and the ability to understand and follow English instructions.

    Working product evaluation environment involves water and possibly fire, smoke and heat.

    We offer our employees a wide range of benefits including career long learning opportunities, tuition reimbursement, 401 (k), pension, flexible schedules, rich health and well-being programs, generous time off allowances, volunteer days and so much more!

    FM Approvals is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce.

    Please note that all FM Approval visitors, including external candidates interviewing for open positions will be required to be vaccinated and should be prepared to provide proof of vaccination.

    #LI-TA1



  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find fire protection engineers for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your fire protection engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit fire protection engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with fire protection engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new fire protection engineer

    Once you've found the fire protection engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new fire protection engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a fire protection engineer?

Recruiting fire protection engineers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for fire protection engineers is $82,467 in the US. However, the cost of fire protection engineer hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a fire protection engineer for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $29 and $52 an hour.

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