Fire Protectionat Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Graduates earn $104,017/yr in their first year — about 53.0% above the national Fire Protection average. Base-case 10-year earnings $720K; scenarios range from $643K to $731K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
The exceptional financial outcomes for SIU-C's Fire Protection program reflect its unique focus beyond traditional firefighting. This isn't just about hoses and ladders; the curriculum emphasizes crucial areas like fire safety engineering, building codes, risk assessment, and industrial hazard prevention. Graduates are highly sought after by a diverse range of employers: not just municipal departments, but also large corporations, insurance firms, and specialized safety consulting companies that need experts to design and manage complex fire prevention systems. The program's strong regional reputation and deep industry connections in the Midwest likely channel students into these higher-paying, specialized roles, often in industrial settings or managerial capacities. To maximize your potential, actively seek out internships with private firms or industrial facilities early on.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Fire Protection
How Southern Illinois University-Carbondale stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Fire Protection offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Fire Protection trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Fire Protection at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
How does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Fire Protection program score?
A score of 64/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Southern Illinois University-Carbondale trails the majority of Fire Protection programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.