Fire Inspectors and Investigators Career, Salary and Skills
Fire Inspectors and Investigators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $75,920 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 13,800. Wage data is published for 126 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
33-2021.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Post-Secondary Certificate
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$75,920
Hourly median
$36.50
Employment
13,800
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Writing | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Speaking | 3.50 | 3.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.38 | 3.62 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Persuasion | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Instructing | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Service Orientation | 3.25 | 3.38 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
Technology
- Code database software
- Consolidated Model of Fire and Smoke Transport CFAST
- Email software
- Fire Dynamics Software FDS
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- National Fire Incident Reporting System NFIRS
- Web browser software
- Xerox Government systems FIREHOUSE Software
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in New York, NYMedian $65,710 · Employment 1,720
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in CAMedian $99,230 · Employment 1,350
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in NJMedian $60,100 · Employment 1,290
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in NYMedian $73,920 · Employment 1,200
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in FLMedian $75,660 · Employment 1,060
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in TXMedian $82,390 · Employment 1,030
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in NCMedian $66,820 · Employment 870
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in OHMedian $59,280 · Employment 520
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in ILMedian $62,400 · Employment 440
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in CTMedian $80,490 · Employment 420
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in Houston, TXMedian $82,390 · Employment 410
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in TNMedian $63,400 · Employment 390
Related careers
- Transit and Railroad PoliceNational median $90,230
- First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersNational median $55,940
- Security Management SpecialistsNational median $83,050
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthNational median $55,090
- Security ManagersNational median $106,660
- Security GuardsNational median $38,020
- Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansNational median $61,560
- Emergency Management DirectorsNational median $93,330
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.