Colorado · SOC 33-2022

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in Colorado

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Colorado; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$50,170

per year in this state

12% below

National Median

$56,870

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$24.12/hr

median hourly

Employment

210

jobs in CO

Salary Range in Colorado

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$42,160
25th$48,240
Median$50,170
75th$62,290
90th$81,430

What This Means for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in Colorado

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Colorado ranks #10 of 15 states and territories for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists pay, the middle tier (67th percentile) nationally. Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists working in Colorado earn a median salary of $50,170, which is 12% below the national median of $56,870. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $42,160 at the 10th percentile to $81,430 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists labor market inside Colorado using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $50,170 ($24.12/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 210 workers in this SOC code (33-2022). Relative to the national median of $56,870, the state estimate is 12% below. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within Colorado, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $42,160, the 25th earns $48,240, the 75th reaches $62,290, and the 90th hits $81,430. The upper boundary is roughly 1.9× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Colorado where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in Colorado

Similar Occupations in Colorado

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Colorado. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 33-2022. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists make in Colorado?
The median annual salary for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in Colorado is $50,170 (12% below national avg). Pay ranges from $42,160 (10th percentile) to $81,430 (90th percentile).
How many Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists work in Colorado?
There are approximately 210 Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists employed in Colorado, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in Colorado?
The median hourly wage for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in Colorado is $24.12/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in Colorado.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Colorado figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.