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.
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 |
Best cities for fire inspectors and investigators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $65,710 | $52,027 | $46,220 | 1,720 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $65,710
Fire Inspector and Investigator salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $122,900 | $95,268 | $77,810 – $145,760 | 380 |
| Oregon | $115,080 | $80,549 | $67,210 – $150,500 | — |
| California | $99,230 | $72,350 | $60,080 – $150,590 | 1,350 |
| Maryland | $98,730 | $73,961 | $55,980 – $116,780 | 270 |
| Nevada | $93,450 | $74,572 | $65,370 – $111,980 | 190 |
| Colorado | $85,750 | $66,091 | $72,810 – $111,390 | — |
| Minnesota | $84,410 | $63,996 | $51,180 – $101,210 | 230 |
| Texas | $82,390 | $66,791 | $55,620 – $102,150 | 1,030 |
| Iowa | $81,860 | $63,960 | $41,640 – $116,040 | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $81,140 | $62,075 | $56,320 – $125,460 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $80,490 | $62,603 | $50,830 – $112,340 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $80,320 | $65,028 | $61,810 – $97,400 | 40 |
| Alabama | $78,110 | $60,140 | $50,830 – $95,220 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $78,100 | $61,461 | $55,320 – $94,540 | 50 |
| Michigan | $77,460 | $60,282 | $45,010 – $100,050 | 250 |
| Missouri | $77,240 | $60,475 | $44,020 – $91,830 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $76,770 | $60,224 | $48,840 – $113,190 | 60 |
| Florida | $75,660 | $62,057 | $51,990 – $105,540 | 1,060 |
| New Hampshire | $75,230 | $61,754 | $64,010 – $90,890 | 50 |
| Arizona | $74,780 | $59,777 | $52,860 – $94,940 | 240 |
| New York | $73,920 | $57,438 | $52,190 – $122,230 | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $73,340 | $58,291 | $50,040 – $92,520 | 200 |
| Idaho | $72,810 | $57,301 | $58,880 – $125,400 | 30 |
| Utah | $72,760 | $57,708 | $52,000 – $89,440 | 60 |
| Virginia | $70,460 | $55,161 | $52,510 – $90,070 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $66,820 | $53,680 | $39,260 – $90,890 | 870 |
| Wisconsin | $66,600 | $53,534 | $36,980 – $132,370 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $64,820 | $52,705 | $40,660 – $131,980 | 80 |
| New Mexico | $64,680 | $52,276 | $54,870 – $78,530 | 160 |
| Georgia | $64,550 | $51,319 | $42,350 – $93,010 | 300 |
| Kansas | $64,290 | $51,049 | $44,440 – $98,140 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $63,400 | $53,122 | $47,150 – $87,560 | 390 |
| Illinois | $62,400 | $49,374 | $35,070 – $125,530 | 440 |
| South Carolina | $61,890 | $49,352 | $43,610 – $78,270 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $60,100 | $48,698 | $43,880 – $104,670 | 1,290 |
| Ohio | $59,280 | $48,964 | $42,580 – $130,530 | 520 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,080 | $47,837 | $35,780 – $95,890 | 280 |
| Maine | $58,240 | $46,226 | $36,050 – $104,440 | — |
| Arkansas | $57,990 | $46,726 | $42,790 – $83,320 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $55,970 | $45,311 | $44,050 – $71,290 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $55,260 | $45,103 | $42,170 – $69,410 | 140 |
| West Virginia | $52,490 | $42,724 | $42,310 – $66,490 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 | $31,033 | $31,450 – $98,180 | 160 |
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. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many fire inspectors and investigators are there in the U.S.?
About 13,800 people work as fire inspectors and investigators nationwide.