---

Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Oregon

Want to work as a Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Oregon? Below are the key facts. 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.

What do Fire Inspectors and Investigators Make in Oregon?

The fire inspectors and investigators working in Oregon, the median annual wage is $115,240 per year (or roughly $55.41/hour).Pay can range from $68,860 at the 10th percentile to $124,110 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$68,860	$33.10
25th percentile	$105,750	$50.84
Median (50th)	$115,240	$55.41
75th percentile	$124,110	$59.67
90th percentile	$124,110	$59.67

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Oregon compared to the national average — is 0.99.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, fire inspectors and investigators earn a median of $60,919 per year ($29.29/hour), above the Oregon median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 386,623 fire inspectors and investigators across the United States. In Oregon alone, approximately 180 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 160 fire inspectors and investigators.

Top Oregon Metros for Fire Inspectors and Investigators

These are the Oregon metros with the most fire inspectors and investigators in Oregon.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	100	$121,120

Top States for Fire Inspectors and Investigators Employment

These states have the highest employment of fire inspectors and investigators work.

State	Number Employed
California	1,260
New York	1,200
Texas	980
New Jersey	900
North Carolina	750
Tennessee	540
Ohio	510
Connecticut	430
Washington	330
Pennsylvania	310
Maryland	270
Georgia	270
Illinois	210
Michigan	210
Arizona	210
Indiana	200
Nevada	190
Oregon	180
Wisconsin	180
Colorado	170

Highest-Paying States for Fire Inspectors and Investigators

The highest-paying states for fire inspectors and investigators.

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

Skills

The most important fire inspectors and investigators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for fire inspectors and investigators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, fire inspectors and investigators typically:

• 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.
• Instruct children about the dangers of fire.
• Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found.
• Inspect properties that store, handle, and use hazardous materials to ensure compliance with laws, codes, and regulations, and issue hazardous materials permits to facilities found in compliance.
• Write detailed reports of fire inspections performed, fire code violations observed, and corrective recommendations offered.

Work Activities

• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Getting Information
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Related occupations to fire inspectors and investigators include:

• Security Managers
• Emergency Management Directors
• Environmental Compliance Inspectors
• Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
• Security Management Specialists
• Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

Also Known As

Alarm Inspector, Alarm Sprinkler Inspector, Arson Investigator, Arson and Bomb Investigator, Bomb Investigator, Building Inspector, Canine Handler (K9 Handler), Certified Fire Investigator (CFI), Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI), Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI), Code Official, Fire Alarm Inspector, Fire Alarm Systems Technician (Fire Alarm Systems Tech), Fire Alarm Technician (Fire Alarm Tech), Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler Inspector.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 33-2021.00