Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary
The median fire inspectors and investigators salary in the United States is $75,920 per year ($36.50/hour). Salaries range from $46,530 at the entry level to $118,750+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 13,800 fire inspectors and investigators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 3.8% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$75,920
per year
Hourly Rate
$36.50
per hour
Employment
13,800
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$46,530
25th percentile
$58,690
Median
$75,920
75th percentile
$95,120
90th percentile
$118,750
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+3.8%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
1,500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
+ 5 years or more experience
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$37K$123K■ No data
Top Paying States
Washington
$123K
+62%
Oregon
$115K
+52%
California
$99K
+31%
Maryland
$99K
+30%
Nevada
$93K
+23%
Colorado
$86K
+13%
Minnesota
$84K
+11%
Texas
$82K
+9%
Iowa
$82K
+8%
Massachusetts
$81K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $122,900 | +61.9% |
| Oregon | $115,080 | +51.6% |
| California | $99,230 | +30.7% |
| Maryland | $98,730 | +30.0% |
| Nevada | $93,450 | +23.1% |
| Colorado | $85,750 | +12.9% |
| Minnesota | $84,410 | +11.2% |
| Texas | $82,390 | +8.5% |
| Iowa | $81,860 | +7.8% |
| Massachusetts | $81,140 | +6.9% |
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Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $159,220 | +109.7% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,410 | +70.5% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $127,920 | +68.5% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $119,780 | +57.8% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $107,690 | +41.8% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $99,860 | +31.5% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,660 | +31.3% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,580 | +31.2% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $98,730 | +30.0% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,150 | +29.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 83
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A fire inspectors and investigators earning $75,920/year would need 785 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 843 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how fire inspectors and investigators salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary trend (2011–2024) →