Fire Inspector and Investigator Salary
Fire Inspectors and Investigators earn a median $75,920 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations
U.S. median
$75,920
$36.50 per hour
Range
$46,530 – $118,750
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
13,800
across the U.S.
▼2.7%
Pay trend: The median for fire inspectors and investigators in the U.S. fell from $78,060 (May 2024) to $75,920 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 5.1%.
What fire inspectors and investigators do
Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.2% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 1,600
Employment of fire inspectors and investigators is projected to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Fire Inspector and Investigator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$62,240
per year · effective tax rate 18.0%
$5,187Monthly
$2,593Twice a month
$2,394Every 2 weeks
$29.92Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,872
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,707
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,101
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$62,240
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,530 | $22.37 | $39,567 |
| 25th percentile | $58,690 | $28.22 | $49,337 |
| Median (50th) | $75,920 | $36.50 | $62,240 |
| 75th percentile | $95,120 | $45.73 | $75,747 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,750 | $57.09 | $92,371 |
Fire Inspector and Investigator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $122,900 | +5.1% | $95,268 | $77,810 – $145,760 | 380 |
| Oregon | $115,080 | −0.1% | $80,549 | $67,210 – $150,500 | — |
| California | $99,230 | +3.2% | $72,350 | $60,080 – $150,590 | 1,350 |
| Maryland | $98,730 | +9.0% | $73,961 | $55,980 – $116,780 | 270 |
| Nevada | $93,450 | −2.5% | $74,572 | $65,370 – $111,980 | 190 |
| Colorado | $85,750 | −11.7% | $66,091 | $72,810 – $111,390 | — |
| Minnesota | $84,410 | +4.0% | $63,996 | $51,180 – $101,210 | 230 |
| Texas | $82,390 | −1.2% | $66,791 | $55,620 – $102,150 | 1,030 |
| Iowa | $81,860 | +8.7% | $63,960 | $41,640 – $116,040 | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $81,140 | −4.1% | $62,075 | $56,320 – $125,460 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $80,490 | +5.1% | $62,603 | $50,830 – $112,340 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $80,320 | +5.9% | $65,028 | $61,810 – $97,400 | 40 |
| Alabama | $78,110 | +53.7% | $60,140 | $50,830 – $95,220 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $78,100 | +5.0% | $61,461 | $55,320 – $94,540 | 50 |
| Michigan | $77,460 | −10.7% | $60,282 | $45,010 – $100,050 | 250 |
| Missouri | $77,240 | −7.1% | $60,475 | $44,020 – $91,830 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $76,770 | +9.2% | $60,224 | $48,840 – $113,190 | 60 |
| Florida | $75,660 | — | $62,057 | $51,990 – $105,540 | 1,060 |
| New Hampshire | $75,230 | −2.3% | $61,754 | $64,010 – $90,890 | 50 |
| Arizona | $74,780 | −0.2% | $59,777 | $52,860 – $94,940 | 240 |
| New York | $73,920 | −1.5% | $57,438 | $52,190 – $122,230 | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $73,340 | +11.0% | $58,291 | $50,040 – $92,520 | 200 |
| Idaho | $72,810 | +3.8% | $57,301 | $58,880 – $125,400 | 30 |
| Utah | $72,760 | +0.3% | $57,708 | $52,000 – $89,440 | 60 |
| Virginia | $70,460 | +1.9% | $55,161 | $52,510 – $90,070 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $66,820 | −2.7% | $53,680 | $39,260 – $90,890 | 870 |
| Wisconsin | $66,600 | −4.7% | $53,534 | $36,980 – $132,370 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $64,820 | −9.2% | $52,705 | $40,660 – $131,980 | 80 |
| New Mexico | $64,680 | −1.0% | $52,276 | $54,870 – $78,530 | 160 |
| Georgia | $64,550 | +0.1% | $51,319 | $42,350 – $93,010 | 300 |
| Kansas | $64,290 | +6.5% | $51,049 | $44,440 – $98,140 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $63,400 | −3.9% | $53,122 | $47,150 – $87,560 | 390 |
| Illinois | $62,400 | −13.8% | $49,374 | $35,070 – $125,530 | 440 |
| South Carolina | $61,890 | +0.2% | $49,352 | $43,610 – $78,270 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $60,100 | −13.0% | $48,698 | $43,880 – $104,670 | 1,290 |
| Ohio | $59,280 | −8.5% | $48,964 | $42,580 – $130,530 | 520 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,080 | −12.4% | $47,837 | $35,780 – $95,890 | 280 |
| Maine | $58,240 | +27.2% | $46,226 | $36,050 – $104,440 | — |
| Arkansas | $57,990 | −0.1% | $46,726 | $42,790 – $83,320 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $55,970 | +10.2% | $45,311 | $44,050 – $71,290 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $55,260 | +1.1% | $45,103 | $42,170 – $69,410 | 140 |
| West Virginia | $52,490 | −0.6% | $42,724 | $42,310 – $66,490 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 | +0.0% | $31,033 | $31,450 – $98,180 | 160 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist | $56,870 | High school diploma or equivalent | +13.1% |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.7% |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer | $76,210 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $76,400 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.9% |
| Fish and Game Warden | $74,060 | Bachelor's degree | -5.7% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers | $77,970 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.5% |
| Transportation Security Screener | $66,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | -4.2% |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $90,230 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.2% |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.4% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fire inspector and investigator make?
The national median salary for fire inspectors and investigators is $75,920 a year ($36.50 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,530 and the top 10% earn over $118,750. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays fire inspectors and investigators the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $122,900.
How many fire inspectors and investigators are there in the U.S.?
About 13,800 people work as fire inspectors and investigators nationwide.