Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in the U.S.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators in the U.S. earn a median of $75,920 a year ($36.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,750 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $78,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fire inspectors and investigators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| 25th percentile | $58,690 | $28.22 |
| Median | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| 75th percentile | $95,120 | $45.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,750 | $57.09 |
| Average (mean) | $78,670 | $37.82 |
Half of fire inspectors and investigators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,326.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,163.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,920 |
| Weekly | $1,460 |
| Hourly | $36.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $122,900 | 380 |
| Oregon | $115,080 | n/a |
| California | $99,230 | 1,350 |
| Maryland | $98,730 | 270 |
| Nevada | $93,450 | 190 |
| Colorado | $85,750 | n/a |
| Minnesota | $84,410 | 230 |
| Texas | $82,390 | 1,030 |
| Iowa | $81,860 | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $81,140 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $80,490 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $80,320 | 40 |
| Alabama | $78,110 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $78,100 | 50 |
| Michigan | $77,460 | 250 |
| Missouri | $77,240 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $76,770 | 60 |
| Florida | $75,660 | 1,060 |
| New Hampshire | $75,230 | 50 |
| Arizona | $74,780 | 240 |
| New York | $73,920 | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $73,340 | 200 |
| Idaho | $72,810 | 30 |
| Utah | $72,760 | 60 |
| Virginia | $70,460 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $66,820 | 870 |
| Wisconsin | $66,600 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $64,820 | 80 |
| New Mexico | $64,680 | 160 |
| Georgia | $64,550 | 300 |
| Kansas | $64,290 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $63,400 | 390 |
| Illinois | $62,400 | 440 |
| South Carolina | $61,890 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $60,100 | 1,290 |
| Ohio | $59,280 | 520 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,080 | 280 |
| Maine | $58,240 | n/a |
| Arkansas | $57,990 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $55,970 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $55,260 | 140 |
| West Virginia | $52,490 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 | 160 |
Best-paying metro areas for fire inspectors and investigators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $159,220 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,410 | 270 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $127,920 | 210 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $119,780 | n/a |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $107,690 | 100 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $99,860 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,660 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,580 | 270 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $98,730 | 220 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,150 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $98,090 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $97,250 | 80 |
| Reno, NV | $94,750 | 40 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $94,690 | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,140 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most fire inspectors and investigators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,720 | $65,710 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 410 | $82,390 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 350 | $62,400 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 350 | $88,260 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 330 | $59,080 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 290 | $94,690 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 270 | $99,580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 270 | $129,410 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 260 | $76,740 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 220 | $98,730 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 210 | $71,070 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 210 | $127,920 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 200 | $84,410 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 170 | $73,140 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 160 | $75,580 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $56,870 | $27.34 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $44.96 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $55,940 | $26.90 |
| School Bus Monitor | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $77,970 | $37.49 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fire inspectors and investigators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for fire inspectors and investigators in the U.S. is $75,920 a year, or $36.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fire inspectors and investigators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of fire inspectors and investigators in the U.S. earn at least $118,750 a year. The top 25% earn $95,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for fire inspectors and investigators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,530 a year, and a quarter of fire inspectors and investigators earn $58,690 or less.
How many fire inspectors and investigators work in the U.S.?
About 13,800 fire inspectors and investigators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.