33 Series · SOC 33-2022

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$56,870
Median / year
$105,460
Top 10% earn
+14.6%
Growth '23–'33
2,780
US workers

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists earn a median of $56,870 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $56,870, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,420 (10th percentile) to $105,460 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 2,780 US workers. California pays the most ($97,370), since pay varies by state and metro area.

33 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists earn a median of $56,870, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 43% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #13 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 14.6% by 2033.

$56,870
Median annual wage
Top 57%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#13 of 24
in Protective Service
3.0×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $97,370. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists (SOC 33-2022) pays a national median of $56,870 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $35,420 at the 10th percentile to $105,460 at the 90th, with a mean of $66,640 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 2,780 Americans work in this occupation across 15 reporting states and 19 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +14.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years 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. California pays the highest state median at $97,370, which is +71% above the national figure. The top metro is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $107,320 - 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.

BLS OEWS May 2025 2,780 jobs Median $56,870/yr

Median Salary

$56,870

per year

Median Hourly

$27.34/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$66,640

average

Employment

2,780

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$56,870 Bottom 43% higher than 43% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

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 Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists sits on the faster-growing side at +14.6% growth and $56,870 median pay.

Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists sits on the faster-growing side at +14.6% growth and $56,870 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000 -10%-5%0%5%10%15%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists sits on the faster-growing side at +14.6% growth and $56,870 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+14.6%

Much faster than average

Annual Openings

300

per year (projected)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Work Experience

Less than 5 years

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
B

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 Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Critical Thinking 4.0
Speaking 3.8
Coordination 3.8
Active Listening 3.6
Judgment and Decision Making 3.6
Complex Problem Solving 3.5
Monitoring 3.4
Instructing 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.1
Writing 3.1

Knowledge Areas

Administration and Management 4.0
Customer and Personal Service 3.8
Education and Training 3.7
Personnel and Human Resources 3.7
Public Safety and Security 3.7
Law and Government 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.5
English Language 3.5
Transportation 3.4
Administrative 3.2

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Relay messages about emergencies, accidents, locations of crew and personnel, and fire hazard conditions.
  • ▸ Conduct wildland firefighting training.
  • ▸ Estimate sizes and characteristics of fires, and report findings to base camps by radio or telephone.
  • ▸ Direct crews working on firelines during forest fires.
  • ▸ Locate forest fires on area maps, using azimuth sighters and known landmarks.
  • ▸ Extinguish smaller fires with portable extinguishers, shovels, and axes.
  • ▸ Patrol assigned areas, looking for forest fires, hazardous conditions, and weather phenomena.
  • ▸ Compile and report meteorological data, such as temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and velocity, and types of cloud formations.
  • ▸ Examine and inventory firefighting equipment, such as axes, fire hoses, shovels, pumps, buckets, and fire extinguishers, to determine amount and condition.
  • ▸ Educate the public about fire safety and prevention.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$35,420$43,760$56,870$81,500$105,460
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$17.03$21.04$27.34$39.18$50.70
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$35,420

25th Percentile

$43,760

Median

$56,870

75th Percentile

$81,500

90th Percentile

$105,460

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. California $97,370 2. Utah $90,020 3. Louisiana $75,480 4. Oregon $73,530 5. Maine $68,310

Lowest Paying States

11. Mississippi $31,720 12. Alabama $37,430 13. Arkansas $43,310 14. Idaho $47,050 15. Georgia $48,010
View all 15 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $97,370 +71% above national
2 Utah $90,020 +58% above national
3 Louisiana $75,480 +33% above national
4 Oregon $73,530 +29% above national
5 Maine $68,310 +20% above national
6 Oklahoma $61,700 +8% above national
7 Arizona $58,570 +3% above national
8 New Jersey $57,380 +1% above national
9 Florida $51,690 9% below national
10 Colorado $50,170 12% below national
11 Georgia $48,010 16% below national
12 Idaho $47,050 17% below national
13 Arkansas $43,310 24% below national
14 Alabama $37,430 34% below national
15 Mississippi $31,720 44% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $107,320 2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $105,460 3. New Orleans-Metairie, LA $102,480 4. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $96,380 5. Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $90,020

Lowest Paying Metros

15. Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $31,470 16. South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $41,790 17. Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $42,160 18. North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $43,720 19. East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $45,890
View all 19 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $107,320 +89% above national
2 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $105,460 +85% above national
3 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $102,480 +80% above national
4 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $96,380 +69% above national
5 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $90,020 +58% above national
6 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $80,100 +41% above national
7 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $77,420 +36% above national
8 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $72,850 +28% above national
9 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $58,240 +2% above national
10 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $51,260 10% below national
11 North Georgia nonmetropolitan area $50,750 11% below national
12 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $50,170 12% below national
13 South Georgia nonmetropolitan area $48,010 16% below national
14 Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area $45,890 19% below national
15 East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $45,890 19% below national
16 North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $43,720 23% below national
17 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $42,160 26% below national
18 South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $41,790 27% below national
19 Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $31,470 45% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.

Animal Control Workers

SOC 33-9011

Bailiffs

SOC 33-3011

Correctional Officers and Jailers

SOC 33-3012

Crossing Guards and Flaggers

SOC 33-9091

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

SOC 33-3021
Compare Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists is $56,870 ($27.34/hour). The salary range spans from $35,420 at the 10th percentile to $105,460 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists at $97,370/year, which is +71% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists is High school diploma or equivalent. Less than 5 years of related work experience is also typically required. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists? ▼
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 7.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.5 per 100 workers.
Is Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists a good career? ▼
Employment for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists is projected to grow 14.6% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 300 openings are projected each year.
How does Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists pay vary by state? ▼
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $97,370/year, while Georgia pays the least at $48,010/year. BLS data covers 15 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $107,320/year. BLS reports wage data for 19 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $81,500/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: California leads at $97,370/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.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

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.