Fire Prevention and Safety Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology prepares professionals to proactively address fire hazards through scientific analysis, strategic planning, and evidence-based interventions. This program equips students with the technical and analytical skills needed to assess risks, design effective prevention strategies, and ensure compliance with safety standards across diverse environments.
- Fire behavior and combustion dynamics: Study of how fires ignite, spread, and interact with different materials and environments to predict and control fire progression.
- Fire simulation modeling: Use of advanced computational tools to replicate fire scenarios and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and response strategies.
- Structural risk assessment: Evaluation of building designs, materials, and layouts to identify vulnerabilities and recommend improvements for fire resistance and occupant safety.
- Materials analysis: Examination of flammability, heat release, and toxic emissions from construction and interior materials under fire conditions.
- Detection and suppression systems: Design, implementation, and maintenance of fire alarms, sprinklers, and other active protection systems to mitigate fire impact.
- Smoke management strategies: Development of systems and protocols to control smoke movement in buildings to support safe evacuation and firefighter operations.
- Evacuation planning and supply logistics: Design of efficient egress routes and coordination of emergency supply delivery during fire incidents.
- Public education and outreach: Creation and delivery of programs that raise community awareness and promote fire-safe behaviors and preparedness.
- Legal and regulatory frameworks: Understanding of fire codes, compliance standards, liability issues, and policy development at local, state, and national levels.
- Research and communication methods: Application of investigative techniques and clear, persuasive communication to report findings, influence policy, and disseminate safety information.
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Fire Prevention and Safety Technology degrees, including First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers, Fire Inspectors and Investigators and Firefighters. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 439,970 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers 33-1021 | $92,430 | $53,970 - $142,300 | 93,680 | $44.44 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators 33-2021 | $78,060 | $47,580 - $149,870 | 14,050 | $37.53 |
| Firefighters 33-2011 | $59,530 | $34,490 - $101,330 | 332,240 | $28.62 |
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $46,390 in Mississippi to $112,027 in Washington—a 141% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, California, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 439,970 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Fire Prevention and Safety Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Fire Prevention and Safety Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Fire Prevention and Safety Technology is found at Santa Ana College (SAC) (420 graduates), Victor Valley College (VVC) (228 graduates), Rio Hondo College (RHC) (156 graduates), San Antonio College (SAC) (135 graduates), and Oxnard College (124 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,246 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
420 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Victor Valley College (VVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
228 | Victorville, California | Public | vvc.edu |
| Rio Hondo College (RHC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
156 | Whittier, California | Public | riohondo.edu |
| San Antonio College (SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
135 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Oxnard College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
124 | Oxnard, California | Public | oxnardcollege.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
96 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| Palomar College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
90 | San Marcos, California | Public | www2.palomar.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
88 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
73 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Allan Hancock College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
72 | Santa Maria, California | Public | hancockcollege.edu |
| Sierra College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
72 | Rocklin, California | Public | sierracollege.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
55 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College (MCC-KC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
53 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | mcckc.edu |
| Moreno Valley College (MVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
51 | Moreno Valley, California | Public | mvc.edu |
| Valencia College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
48 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| El Camino Community College District (ECC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
45 | Torrance, California | Public | elcamino.edu |
| Los Medanos College (LMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
44 | Pittsburg, California | Public | losmedanos.edu |
| College of the Canyons |
Associate's
Other Award
|
43 | Santa Clarita, California | Public | canyons.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
42 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Bakersfield College (BC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
41 | Bakersfield, California | Public | bakersfieldcollege.edu |
| San Diego Miramar College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
41 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmiramar.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| Indian River State College (IRSC) |
Associate's
|
38 | Fort Pierce, Florida | Public | irsc.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
36 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| Las Positas College (LPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Livermore, California | Public | laspositascollege.edu |
| North Shore Community College (NSCC) |
Associate's
|
33 | Danvers, Massachusetts | Public | northshore.edu |
| Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Reno, Nevada | Public | tmcc.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| Modesto Junior College (MJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
29 | Modesto, California | Public | mjc.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
25 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| Cleveland Community College (CCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Shelby, North Carolina | Public | clevelandcc.edu |
| Mission College |
Associate's
|
24 | Santa Clara, California | Public | missioncollege.edu |
| Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) |
Associate's
|
24 | Palos Hills, Illinois | Public | morainevalley.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
24 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Stark State College |
Associate's
|
24 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
24 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Butte College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Oroville, California | Public | butte.edu |
| Tyler Junior College (TJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Tyler, Texas | Public | tjc.edu |
| Columbia College (CC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Sonora, California | Public | gocolumbia.edu |
| Dallas College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| College of San Mateo (CSM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
20 | San Mateo, California | Public | collegeofsanmateo.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| Hennepin Technical College (HTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | hennepintech.edu |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Salisbury, North Carolina | Public | rccc.edu |
| College of the Sequoias (COS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Visalia, California | Public | cos.edu |
| St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Valley Glen, California | Public | lavc.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Associate's
|
16 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Lake Superior College (LSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | lsc.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| Gaston College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Dallas, North Carolina | Public | gaston.edu |
| Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Jamestown, North Carolina | Public | gtcc.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Glendale, California | Public | glendale.edu |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District (MSJC) |
Associate's
|
15 | San Jacinto, California | Public | msjc.edu |
| Passaic County Community College (PCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15 | Paterson, New Jersey | Public | web.pccc.edu |
| Sandhills Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Pinehurst, North Carolina | Public | sandhills.edu |
| Antelope Valley Community College District (AVCCD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | Lancaster, California | Public | avc.edu |
| Solano Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
14 | Fairfield, California | Public | welcome.solano.edu |
| Albany Technical College |
Other Award
|
14 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Crafton Hills College (CHC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Yucaipa, California | Public | craftonhills.edu |
| East Los Angeles College (ELAC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Monterey Park, California | Public | elac.edu |
| Imperial Valley College (IVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Imperial, California | Public | imperial.edu |
| Lassen Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Susanville, California | Public | lassencollege.edu |
| Monroe Community College |
Associate's
|
12 | Rochester, New York | Public | monroecc.edu |
| Mitchell Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Statesville, North Carolina | Public | mitchellcc.edu |
| Cabrillo College |
Associate's
|
11 | Aptos, California | Public | cabrillo.edu |
| Chabot College (CC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Hayward, California | Public | chabotcollege.edu |
| Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Monterey, California | Public | mpc.edu |
| Seminole State College of Florida |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
| Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) |
Residency
|
11 | Springfield, Illinois | Public | llcc.edu |
| Middlesex Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Bedford, Massachusetts | Public | middlesex.mass.edu |
| Alamance Community College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Graham, North Carolina | Public | alamancecc.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Porterville College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Porterville, California | Public | portervillecollege.edu |
| College of the Siskiyous |
Associate's
|
10 | Weed, California | Public | siskiyous.edu |
| Southwestern College (SWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | Chula Vista, California | Public | swccd.edu |
| Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Flat Rock, North Carolina | Public | blueridge.edu |
| Rogue Community College (RCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Grants Pass, Oregon | Public | roguecc.edu |
| Delgado Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| Delta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | University Center, Michigan | Public | delta.edu |
| Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus (A‑Tech) |
Residency
|
9 | Jefferson, Ohio | Public | atech.edu |
| Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Ontario, Oregon | Public | tvcc.cc |
| Cosumnes River College (CRC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
8 | Sacramento, California | Public | crc.losrios.edu |
| West Los Angeles College (WLAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Culver City, California | Public | wlac.edu |
| Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Gardner, Massachusetts | Public | mwcc.edu |
| Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Public | stcc.edu |
| Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Hickory, North Carolina | Public | cvcc.edu |
| Merritt College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Oakland, California | Public | merritt.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Hillsborough Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hccfl.edu |
| Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | bhcc.edu |
| UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ (UCNJ) |
Associate's
|
7 | Cranford, New Jersey | Public | ucc.edu |
| Coastal Carolina Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Jacksonville, North Carolina | Public | coastalcarolina.edu |
| Weatherford College (WC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Weatherford, Texas | Public | wc.edu |
| Merced College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
6 | Merced, California | Public | mccd.edu |
| Palo Verde College (PVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
6 | Blythe, California | Public | paloverde.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Middlesex College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Edison, New Jersey | Public | middlesexcollege.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Fire Prevention and Safety Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Fire Prevention and Safety Technology degree?
Salaries for Fire Prevention and Safety Technology graduates vary by role and location. First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers earn a median of $92,430 annually, while Fire Inspectors and Investigators earn around $78,060. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $112,027 compared to $46,390 in Mississippi. Approximately 439,970 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Fire Prevention and Safety Technology programs?
Currently 139 accredited institutions offer Fire Prevention and Safety Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Santa Ana College (SAC) (420 graduates), Victor Valley College (VVC) (228 graduates), and Rio Hondo College (RHC) (156 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Fire Prevention and Safety Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 4,417 in 2010 to a peak of 3,769 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,350 in 2023-24. This represents a 24% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Fire Prevention and Safety Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers, Fire Inspectors and Investigators, and Firefighters. Related occupations employ approximately 439,970 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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