by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician explores Fire Prevention And Safety Technology/technician. A Program Focusing On The Application Of Fire Science And Technology To Problems Of Reducing Fire Risk, Limiting Loss, Supervising Substance Removal, Conducting Safety Inspections And Investigations, And Advising On Matters Of Safety Procedures And Fire Prevention Policy. Includes Instruction In Fire Behavior, Fire Simulation, Structural Risk Assessment, Materials Analysis, Detection And Suppression Systems, Smoke Management, Supply And Evacuation, Public Education, Legal Aspects Of Fire Prevention, And Related Research And Communications Methods. Examples: [Fire Prevention Education], [Fire Risk Prevention And Inspection]. Continue reading for the important information every fire prevention & safety technology/technician student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering fire prevention & safety technology/technician programs.
Across the country, fire prevention & safety technology/technician draws strong interest, with 3,350 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician Schools ranking analyzes these 139 schools to determine the best overall colleges for fire prevention & safety technology/technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of fire prevention & safety technology/technician programs later in this article.
Programs in Fire Prevention & Safety Technology/Technician develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a fire prevention & safety technology/technician program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a fire prevention & safety technology/technician major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several fire prevention & safety technology/technician degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 403 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,568 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 40 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,315 |
People currently working in careers related to fire prevention & safety technology/technician tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 27.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 25.1% |
| Some college courses | 21.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 6.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 2.7% |
| Master’s degree | 1.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in fire prevention & safety technology/technician careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in fire prevention & safety technology/technician prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to fire prevention & safety technology/technician.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to fire prevention & safety technology/technician.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | 390,120 | 0.9% |
| Firefighters | 221,721 | 6.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | 143,098 | 15.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,281 |
| 4 years | $64,817 |
| 5 years | $72,249 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for fire prevention & safety technology/technician graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers fire prevention & safety technology/technician grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $63,677 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $60,919 |
| Firefighters | $31,415 |
With 139 different fire prevention & safety technology/technician programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased fire prevention & safety technology/technician school rankings to help you.
Students interested in fire prevention & safety technology/technician, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fire Science/Fire-fighting | 9,863 |
| Fire Services Administration | 1,709 |
| Wildland/Forest Firefighting and Investigation | 88 |
| Fire Protection, Other | 70 |
| Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention | 69 |
| Fire Systems Technology | 53 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
