Fire Inspectors and Investigators: Job 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.
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What Tasks Do Fire Inspectors and Investigators Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of fire inspectors and investigators include:
- 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
Successful fire inspectors and investigators draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- 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
The U.S. employs around 386,623 fire inspectors and investigators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Fire Inspectors and Investigators Make?
| 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.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary 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 |
Where Fire Inspectors and Investigators Earn the Most
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 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of fire inspectors and investigators are concentrated in the following sectors:
| 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 |
Below are examples of industries where fire inspectors and investigators work:
Tech Stack
- 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)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for fire inspectors and investigators is shaped by 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
Education and Training
Entry-level 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), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for fire inspectors and investigators commonly pursue programs in:
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
3 programs across 1 majors
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).
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