by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Fire Services Administration involves the study of Fire Services Administration. A Program Focusing On The Principles, Theory, And Practices Associated With The Management Of Fire Operations, Firefighting Services, And Community Fire Issues. Includes Instruction In Fire Protection History And Theory, Incident Command Leadership, Administration Of Public Fire Organizations, Labor Relations, Emergency Medical Services Management, Fire Emergency Response Strategies And Mitigation, Legal And Regulatory Responsibilities, Budgeting, Public Relations, And Organizational Leadership. Examples: [Fire Administration], [Executive Fire Officer], [Fire Service And Management Information Systems]. Read on to learn the key facts every fire services administration student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering fire services administration programs.
Nationwide, fire services administration draws strong interest, with 1,709 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Fire Services Administration Schools ranking analyzes these 50 schools to determine the best overall colleges for fire services administration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of fire services administration programs later in this article.
Programs in Fire Services Administration develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations fire services administration graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a fire services administration program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a fire services administration major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several fire services administration 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 | 41 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 91 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,383 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 172 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to fire services administration tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 50.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 16.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.8% |
| Master’s degree | 7.3% |
| Some college courses | 4.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in fire services administration careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying fire services administration opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to fire services administration.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to fire services administration.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 202,912 | 0.6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | 143,098 | 15.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of fire services administration 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 services administration graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers fire services administration grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,398 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 50 different fire services administration programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased fire services administration school rankings to help you.
Those considering fire services administration, 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 Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician | 3,350 |
| 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.
