According to a survey conducted by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, the median annual income for an entry-level (less than two years of experience) fire protection engineer is $55,500. That figure jumps to $65,000 if the individual has a master’s degree.

The median annual income for a mid-level (six to eight years of experience) fire protection engineer is $72,500. For those with a master's degree, annual income approaches $100,000.

In comparison, the median income for engineers of all types nationally is $63,060 per year.

High demand for qualified fire protection engineers has meant many recent grads have received some of the highest paid engineering jobs in the country.

“Conservatively, we estimate five positions are available per graduate,” says Professor Marino di Marzo, chairman of the University of Maryland’s Fire Protection Engineering Department.

The job market for fire protection engineers has remained strong for years due to the disparity between the large number of job openings and relatively small pool of potential employees.

Fire protection engineers with 15 or more years of experience earn the greatest salaries in the field. It's common for senior-level fire protection engineers to make over $120,000 per year.

The survey, conducted in 2005 by SFPE, polled more than 1,200 professionals practicing in the profession of fire protection engineering. Income data is based on salary plus bonuses in 2004. An executive summary of the survey findings can be found at www.sfpe.org.