Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between fire sprinkler designers and fire protection 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 $58,386 average annual salary of a fire sprinkler designer.
The top three skills for a fire sprinkler designer include fire protection, NFPA and hydraulic calculations. The most important skills for a fire protection engineer are fire protection, NFPA, and revit.
| Fire Sprinkler Designer | Fire Protection Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $58,386 | $82,467 |
| Hourly rate | $28.07 | $39.65 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 47,442 | 13,105 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A 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. Furthermore, a fire sprinkler designer may design upgrades and enhancements, create testing structures, take part in installing and repairing systems, and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure the fire sprinkler systems' quality and efficiency.
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 sprinkler designers and fire protection engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fire Sprinkler Designer | Fire Protection Engineer | |
| Average salary | $58,386 | $82,467 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $81,000 | Between $61,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Roseville, CA | Walnut Creek, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Tyco SimplexGrinnell | Sandia National Labs |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a fire sprinkler designer and a fire protection engineer in terms of educational background:
| Fire Sprinkler Designer | Fire Protection Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between fire sprinkler designers' and fire protection engineers' demographics:
| Fire Sprinkler Designer | Fire Protection Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 9.6% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |