Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
5 years or more
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Fire inspectors and investigators focus on examining fire scenes, enforcing fire codes, and reviewing conditions that relate to fire safety and incidents. Nationally, the occupation has a median annual salary of $78,060 and total employment of about 15,000. Projected employment growth of 3.8% and approximately 2,000 annual openings suggest ongoing movement in and out of these roles. The field calls for strength in customer service, problem solving and decision making, and being detail oriented, supported by skills in science, writing and reading, and computers and information technology. Interpersonal skills, leadership, adaptability, and project management also play an important role. Career paths may intersect with related occupations such as first-line supervisors of protective service workers, occupational health and safety technicians, forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists, and certain healthcare-related protective and support roles. Overall, this career can appeal to people who want to blend investigative work, safety focus, and public interaction while relying on both technical and communication skills.
Fire inspectors and investigators earn a national median annual salary of $78,060, providing a clear benchmark for evaluating offers and planning career progression. Salaries vary substantially by location. At the state level, Washington stands out with a median salary of $122,900, followed by California at $99,230 and Massachusetts at $81,140. New York and Virginia offer median salaries of $73,920 and $70,460, respectively. Among metro areas, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA shows a particularly high median salary of $159,220, while San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA lists $129,410. Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV reports $87,630, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA-NH shows $83,410. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has a median salary of $65,710 but pairs that with high employment. These differences highlight how pay levels can shift significantly based on region and local job markets.
Fire inspectors and investigators have national employment of about 15,000, indicating a relatively focused but established field. Projected employment growth is 3.8%, showing expected expansion over the projection period. With about 2,000 annual openings, there is a consistent flow of positions becoming available, which can reflect both new roles and turnover in existing jobs. This combination of total employment, modest growth, and steady openings suggests that people entering the field may encounter opportunities across different regions and employers over time. For those already in related occupations—such as first-line supervisors of protective service workers, occupational health and safety technicians, forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists, or certain healthcare protective and support roles—the projected growth and openings may support transitions into fire inspection and investigation. Overall, the outlook data point to a career path with continued hiring needs rather than a static or declining labor market.
Location decisions can significantly shape a career as a fire inspector or investigator. Among states with strong opportunities, California combines a median salary of $99,230 with employment of 1,350 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts shows a median salary of $81,140 and an opportunity score of 65.87, while New York lists $73,920 in median pay and a 65.78 score. Washington offers a higher median salary of $122,900 but has smaller employment (380) and an opportunity score of 56.29. Virginia’s median salary is $70,460 with an opportunity score of 54.96. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $159,220 and the highest opportunity score of 77.42, though employment is only 40. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has the largest employment (1,720) and a strong opportunity score of 77.27. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA-NH also show solid combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores, giving candidates several distinct geographic options.
The typical education requirement for fire inspectors and investigators is a postsecondary nondegree award. This means most roles expect education beyond high school without necessarily requiring a full degree program. Within that framework, several core skills play a central role in job performance. Customer service and interpersonal skills support interactions with the public and colleagues, while problem solving and decision making, science, and being detail oriented are important for evaluating information and documentation. Writing and reading skills matter for reporting and understanding regulations or findings, and computers and information technology support modern recordkeeping and analysis. Project management and leadership skills help organize work and coordinate with others, and adaptability supports handling a variety of situations and environments. People with or pursuing a postsecondary nondegree credential who are also building these skill areas can align their development closely with the needs of this occupation.
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