Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
The easy part is that whatever you do, fire will be involved—theoretically, at least. But that doesn't mean you're limited. This is the most terrifying thing we will say all day, but a lot of stuff is flammable. And where there's flammability, there is a need for fire safety.
You have the option of fighting fire on any part of its life cycle. You could be all about early detection and suppression. You could be focused on getting people out of a burning building safely and in an orderly fashion. Maybe you would rather go toe-to-toe with fire and combat it with water and sand. That's an option, too. As long as you want to fight fire in some way, you have a job.
Common Career Fields
Fire Safety Engineer. These are the mad scientists that help put the science in fire safety science. Fire safety engineers help make all that useful stuff we're required to have in our homes and workplaces that let us know that, hey, something's burning, and it's probably a good idea to stop looking at cat pictures on the Internet and get the Shmoop out of dodge. We suppose being alerted to and protected from a fire is not so much the work of mad scientists as regular scientists, but that's not nearly as much fun to say. They design and improve things like sprinklers, smoke detectors, and the other equipment that keeps us safe.
Fire Safety Inspector. Ever watch a show where a character frets about a building they own or built not being up to code? Well, some of the enforcers of this code are fire safety inspectors. They determine if a building is violating those laws that exist so people don't get burned up. It's pretty important, even if people are a little scared when you drop by. Oh, who are we kidding? That's the best part.
Fire Safety Director. This job doesn't exist in every state. Essentially, this is a person responsible for a single building, usually a high-rise skyscraper kind of thing. They make the evacuation plans. They make sure the equipment and safety measures are working like they're supposed to. They also make sure that the building doesn't catch fire—and if it does, that everyone makes it out safe and sound.
Arson Investigator. (Requires attendance to the Police Academy) This is a police detective whose focus is fire. That means determining if a fire was an innocent mistake or arson. Sometimes it's a combination of these factors, like when someone thoughtlessly throws a cigarette into some dry brush and an hour later an entire hillside is on fire. You would walk the thin, sooty, gray line between order and chaos.
Firefighter. If the world were composed entirely of careers we wanted when we were six, the world would be nothing but ballerinas, princesses, space rangers, dinosaur trainers, and, of course, firefighters. Unlike all those others, being a firefighter is a career that's in reach. All that's required is a lot of bravery, some knowledge, and the ability to look good in a calendar.
Sales. A lot of buildings that need fire safety equipment are privately owned. This means they have to buy their equipment like everyone else, and they'll need someone with a good amount of knowledge to help them out. Maybe you don't want to be on the front lines of a fire or investigate fire crimes. Maybe you're a people person. Regardless, someone with a charming personality and a degree in fire safety science could do well in this field.
Safety Specialist. Many places, like office buildings and hospitals, will want to hire a safety specialist. This would be for any number of emergencies, from natural disasters to manmade catastrophes. It's slightly beyond the scope of your training, but here's the nice part: a lot of what you will be learning about fire safety and evacuation can apply to other perilous events. We're not sure if this qualifies as good news, but here goes: many types of disasters can set off fires, so pretty soon, you'll be right in your wheelhouse. Or firehouse. Or…brick house?
Current unemployment of the major
N/A (figure not available)Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
N/A (figure not available)Stats obtained from this source.