Firefighting & Fire Protection
Fire Inspector and Investigator
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
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.
Also called: Arson Investigator · Fire Code Inspector · Fire Inspector · Fire Investigator · Fire Official · Fire Prevention Inspector · Fire Prevention Specialist · Fire Protection Specialist
O*NET-SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators)
Fire Inspector and Investigator salary
Wages for fire inspectors and investigators across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $36.50.
Fire Inspector and Investigator pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $60,080 | $99,230 | $150,590 |
| Texas | $55,620 | $82,390 | $102,150 |
| Florida | $51,990 | $75,660 | $105,540 |
| New York | $52,190 | $73,920 | $122,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,780 | $59,080 | $95,890 |
| Illinois | $35,070 | $62,400 | $125,530 |
| Ohio | $42,580 | $59,280 | $130,530 |
| Georgia | $42,350 | $64,550 | $93,010 |
| North Carolina | $39,260 | $66,820 | $90,890 |
| Michigan | $45,010 | $77,460 | $100,050 |
Fire Inspector and Investigator job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 14,700 jobs in 2025 to 15,300 in 2035 (4% change).
- About 1,600 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Average.
How to become a fire inspector and investigator
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary certificate
- Work experience
- 5 years or more work experience
- On-the-job training
- 1 to 12 months on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma2.7%
- High school diploma or equivalent19.3%
- Some college, no degree29.6%
- Associate's degree15%
- Bachelor's degree26.4%
- Master's degree5.6%
- Doctoral or professional degree1.3%
Related training programs
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
- Fire Science/Fire-fighting
- Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention
What does a fire inspector and investigator do?
Common tasks
- 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.
- Subpoena and interview witnesses, property owners, and building occupants to obtain information and sworn testimony.
- Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
- 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.
- 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.
- Instruct children about the dangers of fire.
Most important skills
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
- Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
- Persuasion
- Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Fire Inspector and Investigator certifications
8 of 27 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- International Certification Board · Advanced
- Fire Code Specialist (FA)International Code Council · Core
- Safenetix · Advanced
- International Association of Arson Investigators · Core
- National Association of Fire Investigators · Core
- International Certification Board · Advanced
- International Code Council · Core
- National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies · Core
See all 27certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Fire Inspector and Investigator jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more firefighting & fire protection jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Firefighting & Fire Protection jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
- Firefighter
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- Construction and Building Inspectors
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
- Aviation Inspectors
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors
More firefighting & fire protection careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Fire Inspectors and Investigators. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.