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.
National median · BLS
$75,920
▼ -2.74%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$78,670
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
13,800
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$46,530
25th
$58,690
Median (50th)
$75,920
75th
$95,120
90th — top pay
$118,750
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Fire Inspectors and Investigators
BLS projects employment of fire inspectors and investigators to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 1,600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
14,700 → 15,300
+600 jobs
Projected change
+4.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Plus 5 years or more experience
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Fire Inspectors and Investigators
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.6
Critical Thinking3.5
Speaking3.5
Writing3.5
Reading Comprehension3.4
Social Perceptiveness3.4
Instructing3.3
Monitoring3.3
Persuasion3.3
Service Orientation3.3
Top knowledge areas
Public Safety and Security4.7
Customer and Personal Service4.3
Building and Construction4.2
Law and Government4.1
Education and Training4.0
English Language3.7
Administration and Management3.0
Chemistry2.9
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft PowerPointCode database softwareConsolidated Model of Fire and Smoke Transport CFASTEmail softwareFire Dynamics Software FDSNational Fire Incident Reporting System NFIRSWeb browser softwareXerox Government systems FIREHOUSE Software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What fire inspectors and investigators do
Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.
Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
Inspect buildings to locate hazardous conditions and fire code violations, such as accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits.
Examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire.
Alarm InspectorAlarm Sprinkler InspectorArson and Bomb InvestigatorBomb InvestigatorBuilding InspectorCanine Handler (K9 Handler)Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI)Code OfficialFire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler InspectorFire Alarm InspectorFire Alarm Systems Technician (Fire Alarm Systems Tech)Fire Alarm Technician (Fire Alarm Tech)Fire and Explosion InvestigatorFire Equipment InspectorFire Extinguisher InspectorFire Extinguisher Sprinkler InspectorFire Extinguisher Technician (Fire Extinguisher Tech)Fire Hazard InspectorFire MarshallFire Prevention OfficerFire Protection FabricatorFire Protection InspectorFire Safety OfficerFire Sprinkler Apparatus InspectorFire Sprinkler ForemanFire Sprinkler InspectorFire System InspectorFire Systems InspectorInspectorSmoke InspectorSprinkler InspectorWater-Based Fire Protection Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Technician
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Fire Inspectors and Investigators, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $75,920.
