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.
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than 5 years
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.
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Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists focus on preventing and addressing forest fire risks. Nationally, this is a relatively small occupation with about 3,000 workers, but it shows projected employment growth of 14.6%. The role blends field-oriented work with safety, inspection, and prevention activities that call for leadership, problem solving and decision making, and strong speaking and listening abilities. Customer service and interpersonal skills also matter, reflecting regular interaction with others. Mechanical skills, physical strength and stamina, and some grounding in science support the more hands-on and technical sides of the work. Project management and adaptability round out the profile, helping workers coordinate tasks and respond to changing conditions. With a national median salary of $52,380 and growth projected nationally, this career can appeal to people who want to combine physical work, safety focus, and structured procedures in a specialized public-safety–related field.
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists earn a national median annual salary of $52,380, but pay varies widely by location. Among the top states listed, median salaries range from $48,010 in Georgia to $97,370 in California and $90,020 in Utah. In Colorado and New Jersey, median earnings fall in the $50,170 to $57,380 range. At the metro level, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim stands out with a median salary of $105,460, followed by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad at $96,380 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $80,100. New York-Newark-Jersey City and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell offer median pay of $58,240 and $51,260, respectively. These differences show that earnings potential is strongly influenced by geography, with some coastal and Western metros and states providing notably higher typical pay than the national median.
National employment for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists is about 3,000, and projected employment growth is 14.6%. This indicates that the occupation is expected to expand over the projection period. At the same time, the data report 0 annual openings nationally, which suggests that new positions and turnover may be limited in number or not separately reported. The combination of a relatively small employment base and specified growth rate means that changes in hiring can be meaningful even when the absolute number of jobs is modest. States and metro areas listed with the same 14.6% growth rate, such as California, Colorado, New Jersey, Utah, Georgia, and the highlighted metros, reflect a consistent projected growth pattern across these key regions. For career planners, this points to a growing but numerically small field where openings may be concentrated in specific locations.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists. Among states, California has the highest opportunity score (67.38), with a median salary of $97,370 and employment of 480. Utah offers a similarly high median salary of $90,020 but with a smaller employment base of 50 and an opportunity score of 43.45. Colorado and New Jersey provide midrange median salaries ($50,170 and $57,380) and opportunity scores of 56.97 and 48.84, respectively. Georgia combines employment of 350 with a median salary of $48,010 and an opportunity score of 41.49. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City leads in opportunity score at 77.27 with a median salary of $58,240. Several California metros, including Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, pair high opportunity scores with very strong median salaries. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell offers more moderate pay and opportunity, giving candidates a range of geographic profiles to consider.
The typical education for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists is a high school diploma or equivalent. Within that educational level, the role emphasizes a broad mix of skills. Leadership, project management, and problem solving and decision making support coordinating activities and guiding others. Speaking and listening, along with interpersonal and customer service skills, are important for working with colleagues and the public. Science and mechanical abilities contribute to understanding equipment and basic technical concepts relevant to inspections and prevention work. Physical strength and stamina are also highlighted, indicating the role can include physically demanding tasks. Adaptability rounds out the skill profile, reflecting the need to adjust to changing environments and situations. Individuals considering this path can focus on building these competencies during and after high school through work experience and other practical opportunities that strengthen both people-oriented and technical capabilities.
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