Fire Inspectors and Investigators
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.
Also called: Arson Investigator · Fire Code Inspector · Fire Inspector · Fire Investigator · Fire Official · Fire Prevention Inspector
Median pay (national)
$78,060
$47,580–$149,870 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
14,050
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.8%
~1,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
Postsecondary nondegree award
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for fire inspectors and investigators shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $149,870 versus $47,580 at the bottom 10% — 3.1x. The median of $78,060 leaves roughly 92% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.8% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 46 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $116,950, +50% vs the national median), while Oklahoma sits lowest at $37,320 — a 213% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Writing, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
- 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.
- Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found.
- Write detailed reports of fire inspections performed, fire code violations observed, and corrective recommendations offered.
- Identify corrective actions necessary to bring properties into compliance with applicable fire codes, laws, regulations, and standards, and explain these measures to property owners or their representatives.
- Develop or review fire exit plans.
- Attend training classes to maintain current knowledge of fire prevention, safety, and firefighting procedures.
- Review blueprints and plans for new or remodeled buildings to ensure the structures meet fire safety codes.
- Teach public education programs on fire safety and prevention.
- 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.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Code database software
- Consolidated Model of Fire and Smoke Transport CFAST
- Fire Dynamics Software FDS
- National Fire Incident Reporting System NFIRS
- Web browser software
- Xerox Government systems FIREHOUSE Software
- Email software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Building and Construction
- Law and Government
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Chemistry