Fire Inspector Salary by State
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 33-2021 Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Fire Inspectors earned a median $75,920 a year ($36.50 an hour) in May 2025 (SOC 33-2021 Fire Inspectors and Investigators).
The middle half earned between $58,690 and $95,120.
This is the Fire Inspectors and Investigators occupation, which also includes fire investigators; most of its workers are employed by local government.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, workers in private households, overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Fire Inspectors and Investigators
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| 25th | $58,690 | $28.22 |
| 50th (median) | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| 75th | $95,120 | $45.73 |
| 90th | $118,750 | $57.09 |
| Mean (average) | $78,670 | $37.82 |
SOC 33-2021 Fire Inspectors and Investigators: 13,800 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Pay by employer setting
| Employer setting (BLS) | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Finance and insurance | $79,260 |
| Local government | $77,380 |
| State government | $71,820 |
| Educational services | $70,190 |
Median wage for SOC 33-2021 Fire Inspectors and Investigators by industry, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Fire Inspector Salary by State
Median annual wage for SOC 33-2021 Fire Inspectors and Investigators in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $75,920; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $78,110 | $37.55 | $50,830–$95,220 | 40 | +3% |
| Alaska | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| Arizona | $74,780 | $35.95 | $52,860–$94,940 | 240 | −2% |
| Arkansas | $57,990 | $27.88 | $42,790–$83,320 | 40 | −24% |
| California | $99,230 | $47.71 | $60,080–$150,590 | 1,350 | +31% |
| Colorado | $85,750 | $41.23 | $72,810–$111,390 | Not published | +13% |
| Connecticut | $80,490 | $38.70 | $50,830–$112,340 | 420 | +6% |
| Delaware | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| District of Columbia | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| Florida | $75,660 | $36.38 | $51,990–$105,540 | 1,060 | −0% |
| Georgia | $64,550 | $31.04 | $42,350–$93,010 | 300 | −15% |
| Hawaii | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| Idaho | $72,810 | $35.01 | $58,880–$125,400 | 30 | −4% |
| Illinois | $62,400 | $30.00 | $35,070–$125,530 | 440 | −18% |
| Indiana | $73,340 | $35.26 | $50,040–$92,520 | 200 | −3% |
| Iowa | $81,860 | $39.35 | $41,640–$116,040 | 30 | +8% |
| Kansas | $64,290 | $30.91 | $44,440–$98,140 | 90 | −15% |
| Kentucky | $55,970 | $26.91 | $44,050–$71,290 | 100 | −26% |
| Louisiana | $64,820 | $31.16 | $40,660–$131,980 | 80 | −15% |
| Maine | $58,240 | $28.00 | $36,050–$104,440 | Not published | −23% |
| Maryland | $98,730 | $47.46 | $55,980–$116,780 | 270 | +30% |
| Massachusetts | $81,140 | $39.01 | $56,320–$125,460 | 200 | +7% |
| Michigan | $77,460 | $37.24 | $45,010–$100,050 | 250 | +2% |
| Minnesota | $84,410 | $40.58 | $51,180–$101,210 | 230 | +11% |
| Mississippi | $55,260 | $26.57 | $42,170–$69,410 | 140 | −27% |
| Missouri | $77,240 | $37.13 | $44,020–$91,830 | 110 | +2% |
| Montana | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| Nebraska | $76,770 | $36.91 | $48,840–$113,190 | 60 | +1% |
| Nevada | $93,450 | $44.93 | $65,370–$111,980 | 190 | +23% |
| New Hampshire | $75,230 | $36.17 | $64,010–$90,890 | 50 | −1% |
| New Jersey | $60,100 | $28.90 | $43,880–$104,670 | 1,290 | −21% |
| New Mexico | $64,680 | $31.09 | $54,870–$78,530 | 160 | −15% |
| New York | $73,920 | $35.54 | $52,190–$122,230 | 1,200 | −3% |
| North Carolina | $66,820 | $32.12 | $39,260–$90,890 | 870 | −12% |
| North Dakota | $80,320 | $38.61 | $61,810–$97,400 | 40 | +6% |
| Ohio | $59,280 | $28.50 | $42,580–$130,530 | 520 | −22% |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 | $17.94 | $31,450–$98,180 | 160 | −51% |
| Oregon | $115,080 | $55.33 | $67,210–$150,500 | Not published | +52% |
| Pennsylvania | $59,080 | $28.41 | $35,780–$95,890 | 280 | −22% |
| Rhode Island | $78,100 | $37.55 | $55,320–$94,540 | 50 | +3% |
| South Carolina | $61,890 | $29.76 | $43,610–$78,270 | 110 | −18% |
| South Dakota | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| Tennessee | $63,400 | $30.48 | $47,150–$87,560 | 390 | −16% |
| Texas | $82,390 | $39.61 | $55,620–$102,150 | 1,030 | +9% |
| Utah | $72,760 | $34.98 | $52,000–$89,440 | 60 | −4% |
| Vermont | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
| Virginia | $70,460 | $33.88 | $52,510–$90,070 | 100 | −7% |
| Washington | $122,900 | $59.09 | $77,810–$145,760 | 380 | +62% |
| West Virginia | $52,490 | $25.24 | $42,310–$66,490 | 70 | −31% |
| Wisconsin | $66,600 | $32.02 | $36,980–$132,370 | 160 | −12% |
| Wyoming | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
BLS does not publish this figure for Alaska, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming. BLS suppresses estimates it cannot publish reliably; no figure is estimated for them here.
Job outlook
BLS projects fire inspectors and investigators to grow from 14,700 to 15,300 jobs from 2025 to 2035 (+4.2%), with about 1,600 openings a year.
The average for all occupations is 3.5%.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2), SOC 33-2021 Fire Inspectors and Investigators. Projected employment includes the self-employed.
Pay by fire protection role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Only fire inspectors are a BLS occupation of their own; the other fire protection titles sit inside a broader occupation or borrow the closest available one, and sales reps have no BLS figure at all.
Compare figures with the same basis only.
| Role | Median shown | What the number is |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinkler Fitter | $63,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 47-2152) |
| Fire Alarm Technician | $60,070 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 49-2098) |
| Sprinkler Foreman | $79,920 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 47-1011) |
| Fire Inspector | $75,920 | BLS occupation (SOC 33-2021) |
| Fire Sprinkler Designer | $71,550 | Closest available occupation (SOC 17-3013) |
| Fire Alarm Designer | $76,870 | Closest available occupation (SOC 17-3012) |
| Fire Protection Engineer | $115,160 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 17-2111) |
| Fire Protection Estimator | $78,740 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 13-1051) |
| Fire Protection Project Manager | $114,990 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9021) |
| Fire Protection Sales Rep | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Fire Protection Service Manager | $79,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 49-1011) |
Fire Inspector salary questions
01How much do fire inspectors make a year?
The median annual wage for fire inspectors and investigators (SOC 33-2021) was $75,920 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS). Half earned more and half earned less. The 10th percentile was $46,530 and the 90th percentile $118,750.
02How much do fire inspectors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for fire inspectors and investigators was $36.50 in May 2025. BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so this is the same median per hour, before overtime, per diem or bonuses.
03Which state pays fire inspectors and investigators the most?
Washington had the highest median in May 2025 at $122,900. Oklahoma had the lowest at $37,320. These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
04What is the average fire inspector salary?
The mean (average) annual wage for fire inspectors and investigators was $78,670 in May 2025, against a $75,920 median. The median is the better guide to a typical salary, because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up.
05Which employers pay fire inspectors and investigators the most?
Of the industries listed above, finance and insurance had the highest median for fire inspectors and investigators in May 2025 at $79,260. Educational services had the lowest of those listed at $70,190.
06Does this include union scale?
OEWS reports one wage series for the whole occupation, union and non-union together. Union scale is set in each local's own agreement, and this page does not quote one.