Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for fire inspectors and investigatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $78,670 ≈ $38/hr
National median salary $75,920
Total employment 13,800 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +3.8%
About as fast as average
Annual openings 1,500 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 14,700 → 15,200 (+600)
Typical entry education Postsecondary nondegree award
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$114,250
- Oregon$109,620
- California$102,500
- Nevada$91,600
- Colorado$91,210
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Oklahoma$51,150
- Mississippi$56,000
- West Virginia$56,720
- Kentucky$56,800
- Arkansas$61,080
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $114,250 | $122,900 | $55 | +45.2% | 380 |
| 2 | Oregon | $109,620 | $115,080 | $53 | +39.3% | — |
| 3 | California | $102,500 | $99,230 | $49 | +30.3% | 1,350 |
| 4 | Nevada | $91,600 | $93,450 | $44 | +16.4% | 190 |
| 5 | Colorado | $91,210 | $85,750 | $44 | +15.9% | — |
| 6 | Maryland | $89,060 | $98,730 | $43 | +13.2% | 270 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $86,180 | $81,140 | $41 | +9.5% | 200 |
| 8 | Idaho | $83,350 | $72,810 | $40 | +5.9% | 30 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $82,060 | $84,410 | $39 | +4.3% | 230 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $80,970 | $80,490 | $39 | +2.9% | 420 |
| 11 | Texas | $80,850 | $82,390 | $39 | +2.8% | 1,030 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $78,800 | $80,320 | $38 | +0.2% | 40 |
| 13 | Florida | $78,440 | $75,660 | $38 | -0.3% | 1,060 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $78,430 | $78,100 | $38 | -0.3% | 50 |
| 15 | Iowa | $78,410 | $81,860 | $38 | -0.3% | 30 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $77,380 | $75,230 | $37 | -1.6% | 50 |
| 17 | New York | $77,180 | $73,920 | $37 | -1.9% | 1,200 |
| 18 | Michigan | $77,080 | $77,460 | $37 | -2% | 250 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $75,970 | $76,770 | $37 | -3.4% | 60 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $75,720 | $66,600 | $36 | -3.7% | 160 |
| 21 | Ohio | $74,790 | $59,280 | $36 | -4.9% | 520 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $74,080 | $64,820 | $36 | -5.8% | 80 |
| 23 | Illinois | $73,330 | $62,400 | $35 | -6.8% | 440 |
| 24 | Alabama | $73,150 | $78,110 | $35 | -7% | 40 |
| 25 | Arizona | $72,710 | $74,780 | $35 | -7.6% | 240 |
| 26 | Indiana | $72,490 | $73,340 | $35 | -7.9% | 200 |
| 27 | Utah | $72,130 | $72,760 | $35 | -8.3% | 60 |
| 28 | Virginia | $71,060 | $70,460 | $34 | -9.7% | 100 |
| 29 | Missouri | $70,410 | $77,240 | $34 | -10.5% | 110 |
| 30 | Kansas | $69,030 | $64,290 | $33 | -12.3% | 90 |
| 31 | Georgia | $68,400 | $64,550 | $33 | -13.1% | 300 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $67,760 | $60,100 | $33 | -13.9% | 1,290 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $66,440 | $64,680 | $32 | -15.5% | 160 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $65,800 | $63,400 | $32 | -16.4% | 390 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $65,570 | $66,820 | $32 | -16.7% | 870 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $64,610 | $61,890 | $31 | -17.9% | 110 |
| 37 | Maine | $64,490 | $58,240 | $31 | -18% | — |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $61,990 | $59,080 | $30 | -21.2% | 280 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $61,080 | $57,990 | $29 | -22.4% | 40 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $56,800 | $55,970 | $27 | -27.8% | 100 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $56,720 | $52,490 | $27 | -27.9% | 70 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $56,000 | $55,260 | $27 | -28.8% | 140 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $51,150 | $37,320 | $25 | -35% | 160 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 92 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $159,220 | $153,240 | 40 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,410 | $124,850 | 270 |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $127,920 | $117,420 | 210 |
| 4 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $119,780 | $110,110 | — |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $107,690 | $104,980 | 100 |
| 6 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $99,860 | $97,820 | 70 |
| 7 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,660 | $97,510 | 30 |
| 8 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,580 | $96,440 | 270 |
| 9 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $98,730 | $89,970 | 220 |
| 10 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $98,150 | $87,910 | 50 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing fire inspectors and investigatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $108,290 | $106,940 | — |
| 2 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $104,480 | $103,850 | 50 |
| 3 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $104,480 | $103,850 | 50 |
| 4 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $100,080 | $91,010 | 110 |
| 5 | Engineering Services | $89,000 | $93,560 | 150 |
| 6 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $84,160 | $95,250 | 390 |
| 7 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $84,160 | $90,390 | 250 |
| 8 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $84,160 | $95,250 | 390 |
| 9 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $82,580 | $87,040 | 40 |
| 10 | Employment Services | $79,950 | $85,980 | 30 |
| 11 | Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $79,260 | $97,660 | 450 |
| 12 | Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $79,260 | $97,500 | 430 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make in the U.S.?
The median fire inspectors and investigators salary in the United States is $75,920 per year (mean $78,670), and about 80% earn between $46,530 and $118,750.
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make per hour?
Roughly $38 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $78,670 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays fire inspectors and investigators the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for fire inspectors and investigators at $114,250 per year (median $122,900).
What is the job outlook for fire inspectors and investigators?
Employment is projected to change +3.8% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 1,500 openings per year.