33 Series · SOC 33-2021
Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $75,920
- Median / year
- $118,750
- Top 10% earn
- +3.8%
- Growth '23–'33
- 13,800
- US workers
Fire Inspectors and Investigators earn a median of $75,920 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $75,920, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $46,530 (10th percentile) to $118,750 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 13,800 US workers. Washington pays the most ($122,900), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Fire Inspectors and Investigators earn a median of $75,920, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 67% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #8 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.8% by 2033.
- $75,920
- Median annual wage
- Top 33%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #8 of 24
- in Protective Service
- 2.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $122,900. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators (SOC 33-2021) pays a national median of $75,920 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $46,530 at the 10th percentile to $118,750 at the 90th, with a mean of $78,670 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 13,800 Americans work in this occupation across 43 reporting states and 89 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award, with 5 years or more of prior experience generally required and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 7.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $122,900, which is +62% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $159,220 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$75,920
per year
Median Hourly
$36.50/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$78,670
average
Employment
13,800
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$75,920 Top 33% higher than 67% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 33-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Fire Inspectors and Investigators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Fire Inspectors and Investigators sits on the slower-growing side at +3.8% growth and $75,920 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.8%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,500
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work Experience
5 years or more
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
7.3/100K
Injury Rate
2.5/100
Danger Index
13.7/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Fire Inspectors and Investigators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Subpoena and interview witnesses, property owners, and building occupants to obtain information and sworn testimony.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Instruct children about the dangers of fire.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$46,530
25th Percentile
$58,690
Median
$75,920
75th Percentile
$95,120
90th Percentile
$118,750
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 43 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $122,900 | +62% above national |
| 2 | Oregon | $115,080 | +52% above national |
| 3 | California | $99,230 | +31% above national |
| 4 | Maryland | $98,730 | +30% above national |
| 5 | Nevada | $93,450 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Colorado | $85,750 | +13% above national |
| 7 | Minnesota | $84,410 | +11% above national |
| 8 | Texas | $82,390 | +9% above national |
| 9 | Iowa | $81,860 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $81,140 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Connecticut | $80,490 | +6% above national |
| 12 | North Dakota | $80,320 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Alabama | $78,110 | +3% above national |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $78,100 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Michigan | $77,460 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Missouri | $77,240 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Nebraska | $76,770 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Florida | $75,660 | same as national |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $75,230 | 1% below national |
| 20 | Arizona | $74,780 | 2% below national |
| 21 | New York | $73,920 | 3% below national |
| 22 | Indiana | $73,340 | 3% below national |
| 23 | Idaho | $72,810 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Utah | $72,760 | 4% below national |
| 25 | Virginia | $70,460 | 7% below national |
| 26 | North Carolina | $66,820 | 12% below national |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $66,600 | 12% below national |
| 28 | Louisiana | $64,820 | 15% below national |
| 29 | New Mexico | $64,680 | 15% below national |
| 30 | Georgia | $64,550 | 15% below national |
| 31 | Kansas | $64,290 | 15% below national |
| 32 | Tennessee | $63,400 | 16% below national |
| 33 | Illinois | $62,400 | 18% below national |
| 34 | South Carolina | $61,890 | 18% below national |
| 35 | New Jersey | $60,100 | 21% below national |
| 36 | Ohio | $59,280 | 22% below national |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $59,080 | 22% below national |
| 38 | Maine | $58,240 | 23% below national |
| 39 | Arkansas | $57,990 | 24% below national |
| 40 | Kentucky | $55,970 | 26% below national |
| 41 | Mississippi | $55,260 | 27% below national |
| 42 | West Virginia | $52,490 | 31% below national |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $37,320 | 51% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 89 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $159,220 | +110% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,410 | +70% above national |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $127,920 | +68% above national |
| 4 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $119,780 | +58% above national |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $107,690 | +42% above national |
| 6 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $99,860 | +32% above national |
| 7 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,660 | +31% above national |
| 8 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,580 | +31% above national |
| 9 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $98,730 | +30% above national |
| 10 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,150 | +29% above national |
| 11 | Fresno, CA | $98,090 | +29% above national |
| 12 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $97,250 | +28% above national |
| 13 | Reno, NV | $94,750 | +25% above national |
| 14 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $94,690 | +25% above national |
| 15 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,140 | +24% above national |
| 16 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $93,450 | +23% above national |
| 17 | New Haven, CT | $93,430 | +23% above national |
| 18 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $88,540 | +17% above national |
| 19 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $88,260 | +16% above national |
| 20 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,630 | +15% above national |
| 21 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $86,830 | +14% above national |
| 22 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $86,630 | +14% above national |
| 23 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $86,290 | +14% above national |
| 24 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $84,410 | +11% above national |
| 25 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83,410 | +10% above national |
| 26 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $82,640 | +9% above national |
| 27 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $82,390 | +9% above national |
| 28 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $82,280 | +8% above national |
| 29 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $80,510 | +6% above national |
| 30 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $80,340 | +6% above national |
| 31 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $79,700 | +5% above national |
| 32 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $78,760 | +4% above national |
| 33 | Baton Rouge, LA | $78,530 | +3% above national |
| 34 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $78,470 | +3% above national |
| 35 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $78,150 | +3% above national |
| 36 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $78,100 | +3% above national |
| 37 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $77,730 | +2% above national |
| 38 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $77,230 | +2% above national |
| 39 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $77,160 | +2% above national |
| 40 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $77,120 | +2% above national |
| 41 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $76,740 | +1% above national |
| 42 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $76,550 | +1% above national |
| 43 | Springfield, MA | $76,460 | +1% above national |
| 44 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $76,370 | +1% above national |
| 45 | Tucson, AZ | $76,350 | +1% above national |
| 46 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $75,580 | same as national |
| 47 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $75,470 | 1% below national |
| 48 | Syracuse, NY | $74,740 | 2% below national |
| 49 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $73,540 | 3% below national |
| 50 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $73,440 | 3% below national |
| 51 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $73,140 | 4% below national |
| 52 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $72,990 | 4% below national |
| 53 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $72,760 | 4% below national |
| 54 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $72,290 | 5% below national |
| 55 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $71,370 | 6% below national |
| 56 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $71,070 | 6% below national |
| 57 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $69,160 | 9% below national |
| 58 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $68,650 | 10% below national |
| 59 | Santa Fe, NM | $68,140 | 10% below national |
| 60 | Toledo, OH | $66,540 | 12% below national |
| 61 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $65,710 | 13% below national |
| 62 | Lincoln, NE | $65,620 | 14% below national |
| 63 | Rochester, NY | $64,990 | 14% below national |
| 64 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $64,500 | 15% below national |
| 65 | Jacksonville, FL | $64,090 | 16% below national |
| 66 | Winston-Salem, NC | $63,950 | 16% below national |
| 67 | Columbus, OH | $63,460 | 16% below national |
| 68 | Albuquerque, NM | $62,800 | 17% below national |
| 69 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $62,560 | 18% below national |
| 70 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $62,400 | 18% below national |
| 71 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $62,180 | 18% below national |
| 72 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $61,660 | 19% below national |
| 73 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,080 | 22% below national |
| 74 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $58,720 | 23% below national |
| 75 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $57,710 | 24% below national |
| 76 | Cleveland, OH | $57,590 | 24% below national |
| 77 | Jackson, MS | $56,370 | 26% below national |
| 78 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $56,270 | 26% below national |
| 79 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $55,930 | 26% below national |
| 80 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $55,480 | 27% below national |
| 81 | Akron, OH | $54,350 | 28% below national |
| 82 | Charleston, WV | $49,100 | 35% below national |
| 83 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $48,060 | 37% below national |
| 84 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,480 | 37% below national |
| 85 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $45,230 | 40% below national |
| 86 | Wilmington, NC | $45,100 | 41% below national |
| 87 | Wichita, KS | $44,440 | 41% below national |
| 88 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,320 | 51% below national |
| 89 | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,790 | 53% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Fire Inspectors and Investigators make? ▼
What state pays Fire Inspectors and Investigators the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Fire Inspectors and Investigators? ▼
How dangerous is being a Fire Inspectors and Investigators? ▼
Is Fire Inspectors and Investigators a good career? ▼
How does Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $95,120/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $122,900/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.