Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary
Protective Service Occupations · 14K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$75,920
Median hourly
$37
Average annual
$78,670
Typical range
$46,530–$118,750
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Fire Inspectors and Investigators is $75,920 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $37 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $46,530 and $118,750 a year. There are roughly 14K people employed as fire inspectors and investigators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Fire Inspectors and Investigators.
- Hourly
- $36.50
- Daily
- $292
- Weekly
- $1,460
- Bi-weekly
- $2,920
- Monthly
- $6,327
- Annual
- $75,920
$75,920 a year is around the 50th percentile for Fire Inspectors and Investigatorss. The median is $75,920.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$122,900
- 2Oregon$115,080
- 3California$99,230
- 4Maryland$98,730
- 5Nevada$93,450
- 6Colorado$85,750
- 7Minnesota$84,410
- 8Texas$82,390
- 9Iowa$81,860
- 10Massachusetts$81,140
- 11Connecticut$80,490
- 12North Dakota$80,320
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$159,220
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$129,410
- 3Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$127,920
- 4Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$119,780
- 5Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$107,690
- 6Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$99,860
- 7Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$99,660
- 8Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$99,580
- 9Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$98,730
- 10Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$98,150
- 11Fresno, CA$98,090
- 12San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$97,250
Related job titles
Employers advertise Fire Inspectors and Investigators roles under these titles.
- Alarm Inspector
- Alarm Sprinkler Inspector
- Arson and Bomb Investigator
- Arson Investigator
- Bomb Investigator
- Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
- Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)
- Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI)
- Code Official
- Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler Inspector
- Fire and Explosion Investigator
- Fire Code Inspector
- Fire Extinguisher Inspector
- Fire Extinguisher Sprinkler Inspector
- Fire Extinguisher Technician (Fire Extinguisher Tech)
- Fire Hazard Inspector
Related occupations
- Firefighters$59,280
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$115,160
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists$56,870
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$93,530
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,150
- Construction and Building Inspectors$74,690
- Compliance Officers$80,730
- Transportation Inspectors$92,100
What a Fire Inspectors and Investigators does
- Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
- 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.
- Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found.
- Write detailed reports of fire inspections performed, fire code violations observed, and corrective recommendations offered.
- Identify corrective actions necessary to bring properties into compliance with applicable fire codes, laws, regulations, and standards, and explain these measures to property owners or their representatives.
- Develop or review fire exit plans.
- Attend training classes to maintain current knowledge of fire prevention, safety, and firefighting procedures.
- Review blueprints and plans for new or remodeled buildings to ensure the structures meet fire safety codes.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fire Inspectors and Investigators make?
- The median annual wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators is $75,920 ($37 per hour). Pay ranges from about $46,530 at the 10th percentile to $118,750 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Fire Inspectors and Investigators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $78,670, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Fire Inspectors and Investigatorss the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $122,900.
- Is Fire Inspectors and Investigators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 14K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Fire Inspectors and Investigators do?
- Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.; 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.; Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found..