Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialistss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$102,750
- Utah$88,490
- Louisiana$75,250
- Oregon$74,340
- Oklahoma$74,280
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$33,470
- Alabama$41,820
- Arkansas$42,540
- Georgia$50,280
- Idaho$55,810
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $102,750 | $97,370 | $49 | +54.2% | 480 |
| 2 | Utah | $88,490 | $90,020 | $43 | +32.8% | 50 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $75,250 | $75,480 | $36 | +12.9% | 90 |
| 4 | Oregon | $74,340 | $73,530 | $36 | +11.6% | 140 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | $74,280 | $61,700 | $36 | +11.5% | 310 |
| 6 | Maine | $67,550 | $68,310 | $32 | +1.4% | 60 |
| 7 | Arizona | $65,480 | $58,570 | $31 | -1.7% | 40 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $64,100 | $57,380 | $31 | -3.8% | 140 |
| 9 | Florida | $57,510 | $51,690 | $28 | -13.7% | 100 |
| 10 | Colorado | $57,220 | $50,170 | $28 | -14.1% | 210 |
| 11 | Idaho | $55,810 | $47,050 | $27 | -16.3% | 50 |
| 12 | Georgia | $50,280 | $48,010 | $24 | -24.5% | 350 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $42,540 | $43,310 | $20 | -36.2% | 140 |
| 14 | Alabama | $41,820 | $37,430 | $20 | -37.2% | 40 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $33,470 | $31,720 | $16 | -49.8% | 100 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 21 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $107,320 | $104,400 | 50 |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,460 | $105,600 | 130 |
| 3 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $102,480 | $93,490 | 50 |
| 4 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $96,380 | $92,850 | 40 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $90,020 | $89,910 | 40 |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $80,100 | $115,140 | 60 |
| 7 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,420 | $81,070 | — |
| 8 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $72,850 | $63,380 | 40 |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $58,240 | $65,130 | 100 |
| 10 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $51,260 | $52,210 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing forest fire inspectors and prevention specialistss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $77,600 | $82,600 | 1,300 |
| 2 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $77,600 | $82,600 | 1,300 |
| 3 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $59,400 | $69,230 | 2,400 |
| 4 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $59,400 | $69,220 | 2,430 |
| 5 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $59,400 | $69,230 | 2,400 |
| 6 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $56,870 | $66,640 | 2,780 |
| 7 | State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $48,530 | $53,720 | 1,120 |
| 8 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $48,280 | $53,430 | 1,100 |
| 9 | Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $48,240 | $46,490 | 50 |
| 10 | Sector 81 - Other Services (except Public Administration) | $48,240 | $46,490 | 50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists make in the U.S.?
The median forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists salary in the United States is $56,870 per year (mean $66,640), and about 80% earn between $35,420 and $105,460.
How much do forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists make per hour?
Roughly $32 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $66,640 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists the most?
California has the highest average pay for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists at $102,750 per year (median $97,370).
What is the job outlook for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists?
Employment is projected to change +14.6% from 2024 to 2034 (Much faster than average), with about 300 openings per year.