Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$81,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$9,500
11.6% of base
Total target cash
$91,000
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$5,50050th$9,50075th$15,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Fire Inspectors and Investigators is a professional role within the function in the Protective Service job family.
Typical entry preparation: Post-Secondary Certificate and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
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.
Top skills:Active ListeningWritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessReading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay by experience level
Entry level$48,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$60,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$78,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$98,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$123,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,500
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
11,510 workers
$81,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
9,990 workers
$82,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,520 workers
$77,000
Investigation and Security Services
460 workers
$61,000
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
450 workers
$101,000
Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities
430 workers
$101,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
390 workers
$98,500
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
250 workers
$93,500
Educational Services
210 workers
$74,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
170 workers
$72,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pays 16% above the average across 28 roles in the Protective Service job family (family average $70,500).
Need Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
