Fire inspectors and investigators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| Mean (average) | $78,670 | $37.82 |
| 90th percentile | $118,750 | $57.09 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Fire inspectors and investigators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 43 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $78,110 | $50,830 | $95,220 | 40 | 0.21 |
| Arizona | $74,780 | $52,860 | $94,940 | 240 | 0.84 |
| Arkansas | $57,990 | $42,790 | $83,320 | 40 | 0.31 |
| California | $99,230 | $60,080 | $150,590 | 1,350 | 0.83 |
| Colorado | $85,750 | $72,810 | $111,390 | ||
| Connecticut | $80,490 | $50,830 | $112,340 | 420 | 2.81 |
| Florida | $75,660 | $51,990 | $105,540 | 1,060 | 1.2 |
| Georgia | $64,550 | $42,350 | $93,010 | 300 | 0.69 |
| Idaho | $72,810 | $58,880 | $125,400 | 30 | 0.42 |
| Illinois | $62,400 | $35,070 | $125,530 | 440 | 0.8 |
| Indiana | $73,340 | $50,040 | $92,520 | 200 | 0.72 |
| Iowa | $81,860 | $41,640 | $116,040 | 30 | 0.22 |
| Kansas | $64,290 | $44,440 | $98,140 | 90 | 0.73 |
| Kentucky | $55,970 | $44,050 | $71,290 | 100 | 0.58 |
| Louisiana | $64,820 | $40,660 | $131,980 | 80 | 0.47 |
| Maine | $58,240 | $36,050 | $104,440 | ||
| Maryland | $98,730 | $55,980 | $116,780 | 270 | 1.08 |
| Massachusetts | $81,140 | $56,320 | $125,460 | 200 | 0.62 |
| Michigan | $77,460 | $45,010 | $100,050 | 250 | 0.63 |
| Minnesota | $84,410 | $51,180 | $101,210 | 230 | 0.88 |
| Mississippi | $55,260 | $42,170 | $69,410 | 140 | 1.4 |
| Missouri | $77,240 | $44,020 | $91,830 | 110 | 0.41 |
| Nebraska | $76,770 | $48,840 | $113,190 | 60 | 0.61 |
| Nevada | $93,450 | $65,370 | $111,980 | 190 | 1.39 |
| New Hampshire | $75,230 | $64,010 | $90,890 | 50 | 0.78 |
| New Jersey | $60,100 | $43,880 | $104,670 | 1,290 | 3.39 |
| New Mexico | $64,680 | $54,870 | $78,530 | 160 | 2.05 |
| New York | $73,920 | $52,190 | $122,230 | 1,200 | 1.4 |
| North Carolina | $66,820 | $39,260 | $90,890 | 870 | 1.98 |
| North Dakota | $80,320 | $61,810 | $97,400 | 40 | 1.02 |
| Ohio | $59,280 | $42,580 | $130,530 | 520 | 1.06 |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 | $31,450 | $98,180 | 160 | 1.08 |
| Oregon | $115,080 | $67,210 | $150,500 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $59,080 | $35,780 | $95,890 | 280 | 0.52 |
| Rhode Island | $78,100 | $55,320 | $94,540 | 50 | 1.16 |
| South Carolina | $61,890 | $43,610 | $78,270 | 110 | 0.53 |
| Tennessee | $63,400 | $47,150 | $87,560 | 390 | 1.35 |
| Texas | $82,390 | $55,620 | $102,150 | 1,030 | 0.82 |
| Utah | $72,760 | $52,000 | $89,440 | 60 | 0.37 |
| Virginia | $70,460 | $52,510 | $90,070 | 100 | 0.27 |
| Washington | $122,900 | $77,810 | $145,760 | 380 | 1.19 |
| West Virginia | $52,490 | $42,310 | $66,490 | 70 | 1.08 |
| Wisconsin | $66,600 | $36,980 | $132,370 | 160 | 0.63 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for fire inspectors and investigators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for fire inspectors and investigators
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician CIP 43.0201
- Fire Science/Fire-fighting CIP 43.0203
- Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention CIP 43.0205
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
- Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.
- Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
- Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
- Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
- Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
- Inspect buildings to locate hazardous conditions and fire code violations, such as accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits.
- Examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Code database software
- Consolidated Model of Fire and Smoke Transport CFAST
- Email software
- Fire Dynamics Software FDS
- National Fire Incident Reporting System NFIRS
- Web browser software
- Xerox Government systems FIREHOUSE Software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Instructing, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Arson Investigator, Fire Code Inspector, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire Official, Fire Prevention Inspector, Fire Prevention Specialist, Fire Protection Specialist, Fire Safety Inspector, Fire Safety Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make?
The national median annual wage for fire inspectors and investigators was $75,920 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,530 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $118,750. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do fire inspectors and investigators need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is fire inspectors and investigators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of fire inspectors and investigators to change +4.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay fire inspectors and investigators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($122,900), Oregon ($115,080), California ($99,230). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.