Find Trade Colleges
Fire Inspectors and Investigators: Career Profile
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.
The Daily Work of Fire Inspectors and Investigators Do?
The core tasks performed by fire inspectors and investigators cover:
- 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.
- Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
- 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.
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Top fire inspectors and investigators combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Fire Inspectors and Investigators Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Alarm Inspector
- Alarm Sprinkler Inspector
- Arson Investigator
- Arson and Bomb Investigator
- Bomb Investigator
- Building Inspector
- Canine Handler (K9 Handler)
- Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)
Job Outlook
There are roughly 386,623 fire inspectors and investigators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.9% over the projection horizon.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $60,919 |
| Hourly median | $29.29 |
| 10th percentile | $38,458 |
| 25th percentile | $49,689 |
| 75th percentile | $72,150 |
| 90th percentile | $83,381 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $116,950 |
| Oregon | $115,240 |
| Colorado | $97,080 |
| California | $96,180 |
| Nevada | $95,870 |
| Maryland | $90,610 |
| Michigan | $86,770 |
| Massachusetts | $84,650 |
| Texas | $83,370 |
| Missouri | $83,130 |
| Minnesota | $81,200 |
| Wyoming | $77,450 |
| New Hampshire | $77,040 |
| Connecticut | $76,620 |
| North Dakota | $75,860 |
| Iowa | $75,330 |
| New York | $75,080 |
| Arizona | $74,900 |
| Rhode Island | $74,380 |
| Utah | $72,550 |
| Illinois | $72,400 |
| Louisiana | $71,380 |
| Vermont | $71,220 |
| Nebraska | $70,300 |
| Idaho | $70,160 |
| Wisconsin | $69,920 |
| Virginia | $69,140 |
| New Jersey | $69,090 |
| North Carolina | $68,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,440 |
| Indiana | $66,090 |
| Tennessee | $65,940 |
| New Mexico | $65,330 |
| Ohio | $64,790 |
| Georgia | $64,480 |
| South Carolina | $61,780 |
| Kansas | $60,380 |
| Arkansas | $58,030 |
| Delaware | $57,840 |
| Mississippi | $54,650 |
| West Virginia | $52,820 |
| Alabama | $50,810 |
| Kentucky | $50,800 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,900 |
| Maine | $45,770 |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for fire inspectors and investigators vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $101,397 | 17.4% | 0.89 |
| Rocky Mountains | $86,090 | 2.7% | 0.65 |
| New England | $77,691 | 5.8% | 2.11 |
| Plains States | $75,960 | 4.5% | 0.57 |
| Southwest | $75,696 | 12.8% | 0.82 |
| Middle Atlantic | $73,344 | 24.4% | 1.58 |
| Great Lakes | $70,436 | 11.6% | 0.73 |
| Southeast | $64,925 | 19.7% | 1.28 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | FL | $149,870 | 1,780 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $137,320 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $130,940 | 250 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $123,080 | 190 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $121,120 | 100 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $109,310 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $102,500 | 80 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $99,310 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Fire Inspectors and Investigators
The bulk of fire inspectors and investigators work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 470 | $57,810 |
| Finance and Insurance | 460 | $69,340 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 270 | $92,190 |
| Educational Services | 220 | $68,490 |
| Manufacturing | 80 | $92,610 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 30 | $66,300 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for fire inspectors and investigators tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How to Become Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Most fire inspectors and investigators positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Security Managers (Supplemental)
- Emergency Management Directors (Supplemental)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Primary-Long)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (Primary-Long)
- Security Management Specialists (Supplemental)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Primary-Long)
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (Supplemental)
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.