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Top 15 cities for fire inspectors and investigators by average salary
| San Jose, CA | $153,240 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $124,850 |
| Seattle, WA | $117,420 |
| Portland, OR | $110,110 |
| Sacramento, CA | $104,980 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $97,820 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $97,510 |
| Riverside, CA | $96,440 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $94,650 |
| San Diego, CA | $94,490 |
| Dayton, OH | $93,940 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $93,350 |
| Boston, MA | $93,070 |
| Denver, CO | $93,040 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $92,600 |
Map: Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary by metro area
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Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary by state
Washington pays fire inspectors and investigators the most statewide, $114,250 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $114,250 | $122,900 | 380 | 1 | $117,420 | $117,420 |
| Oregon | $109,620 | $115,080 | n/a | 1 | $110,110 | $110,110 |
| California | $102,500 | $99,230 | 1,350 | 10 | $153,240 | $87,910 |
| Nevada | $91,600 | $93,450 | 190 | 2 | $92,600 | $91,030 |
| Colorado | $91,210 | $85,750 | n/a | 1 | $93,040 | $93,040 |
| Maryland | $89,060 | $98,730 | 270 | 1 | $89,970 | $89,970 |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $88,340 | $88,340 |
| Massachusetts | $86,180 | $81,140 | 200 | 2 | $93,070 | $76,390 |
| Idaho | $83,350 | $72,810 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota | $82,060 | $84,410 | 230 | 1 | $82,520 | $82,520 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 | $80,490 | 420 | 5 | $97,820 | $72,910 |
| Texas | $80,850 | $82,390 | 1,030 | 4 | $87,010 | $70,820 |
| North Dakota | $78,800 | $80,320 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Florida | $78,440 | $75,660 | 1,060 | 9 | $88,410 | $54,750 |
| Rhode Island | $78,430 | $78,100 | 50 | 1 | $78,070 | $78,070 |
| Iowa | $78,410 | $81,860 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $77,380 | $75,230 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New York | $77,180 | $73,920 | 1,200 | 5 | $82,340 | $68,610 |
| Michigan | $77,080 | $77,460 | 250 | 1 | $85,730 | $85,730 |
| Nebraska | $75,970 | $76,770 | 60 | 1 | $72,600 | $72,600 |
| Wisconsin | $75,720 | $66,600 | 160 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | $74,790 | $59,280 | 520 | 5 | $93,940 | $63,630 |
| Louisiana | $74,080 | $64,820 | 80 | 1 | $87,510 | $87,510 |
| Illinois | $73,330 | $62,400 | 440 | 1 | $74,460 | $74,460 |
| Alabama | $73,150 | $78,110 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona | $72,710 | $74,780 | 240 | 2 | $74,580 | $70,080 |
| Indiana | $72,490 | $73,340 | 200 | 1 | $72,260 | $72,260 |
| Utah | $72,130 | $72,760 | 60 | 1 | $75,270 | $75,270 |
| Virginia | $71,060 | $70,460 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | $70,410 | $77,240 | 110 | 2 | $82,520 | $80,620 |
| Kansas | $69,030 | $64,290 | 90 | 1 | $56,630 | $56,630 |
| Georgia | $68,400 | $64,550 | 300 | 1 | $71,380 | $71,380 |
| New Jersey | $67,760 | $60,100 | 1,290 | 2 | $78,850 | $65,550 |
| New Mexico | $66,440 | $64,680 | 160 | 2 | $68,500 | $65,620 |
| Tennessee | $65,800 | $63,400 | 390 | 2 | $70,490 | $70,250 |
| North Carolina | $65,570 | $66,820 | 870 | 6 | $76,400 | $50,730 |
| South Carolina | $64,610 | $61,890 | 110 | 1 | $64,490 | $64,490 |
| Maine | $64,490 | $58,240 | n/a | 1 | $56,840 | $56,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,990 | $59,080 | 280 | 3 | $64,560 | $47,310 |
| Arkansas | $61,080 | $57,990 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $56,800 | $55,970 | 100 | 1 | $58,730 | $58,730 |
| West Virginia | $56,720 | $52,490 | 70 | 1 | $50,120 | $50,120 |
| Mississippi | $56,000 | $55,260 | 140 | 2 | $59,980 | $57,780 |
| Oklahoma | $51,150 | $37,320 | 160 | 1 | $50,640 | $50,640 |
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Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $153,240 | $159,220 | $73.67 | 40 |
| San Francisco, CA | $124,850 | $129,410 | $60.03 | 270 |
| Seattle, WA | $117,420 | $127,920 | $56.45 | 210 |
| Portland, OR | $110,110 | $119,780 | $52.94 | n/a |
| Sacramento, CA | $104,980 | $107,690 | $50.47 | 100 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $97,820 | $99,860 | $47.03 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $97,510 | $99,660 | $46.88 | 30 |
| Riverside, CA | $96,440 | $99,580 | $46.37 | 270 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $94,650 | $86,830 | $45.50 | 80 |
| San Diego, CA | $94,490 | $97,250 | $45.43 | 80 |
| Dayton, OH | $93,940 | $86,290 | $45.17 | 40 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $93,350 | $94,140 | $44.88 | n/a |
| Boston, MA | $93,070 | $83,410 | $44.75 | 130 |
| Denver, CO | $93,040 | $88,540 | $44.73 | n/a |
| Las Vegas, NV | $92,600 | $93,450 | $44.52 | 130 |
| Reno, NV | $91,030 | $94,750 | $43.77 | 40 |
| Baltimore, MD | $89,970 | $98,730 | $43.25 | 220 |
| Fresno, CA | $89,780 | $98,090 | $43.17 | 30 |
| Miami, FL | $88,410 | $88,260 | $42.50 | 350 |
| Washington, DC | $88,340 | $87,630 | $42.47 | 110 |
| Oxnard, CA | $87,910 | $98,150 | $42.27 | 50 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $87,510 | $78,530 | $42.07 | 40 |
| Dallas, TX | $87,010 | $94,690 | $41.83 | 290 |
| Austin, TX | $86,090 | $80,510 | $41.39 | 50 |
| Detroit, MI | $85,730 | $86,630 | $41.21 | 110 |
| New Haven, CT | $84,580 | $93,430 | $40.66 | 60 |
| Tampa, FL | $83,760 | $79,700 | $40.27 | 140 |
| Kansas City, MO | $82,520 | $78,470 | $39.67 | 60 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $82,520 | $84,410 | $39.67 | 200 |
| Albany, NY | $82,340 | $82,640 | $39.59 | 80 |
| Fort Myers, FL | $82,300 | $78,100 | $39.57 | 50 |
| Houston, TX | $80,860 | $82,390 | $38.88 | 410 |
| St. Louis, MO | $80,620 | $80,340 | $38.76 | 30 |
| Naples, FL | $79,950 | $77,230 | $38.44 | 30 |
| Trenton, NJ | $78,850 | $72,290 | $37.91 | 70 |
| Toledo, OH | $78,410 | $66,540 | $37.70 | 40 |
| Providence, RI | $78,070 | $77,730 | $37.53 | 50 |
| Hartford, CT | $78,040 | $76,550 | $37.52 | 130 |
| Norwich, CT | $77,690 | $78,760 | $37.35 | 50 |
| Raleigh, NC | $76,400 | $77,120 | $36.73 | 90 |
| Springfield, MA | $76,390 | $76,460 | $36.73 | 40 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $75,270 | $72,760 | $36.19 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $75,170 | $63,460 | $36.14 | 150 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $74,580 | $75,580 | $35.86 | 160 |
| Chicago, IL | $74,460 | $62,400 | $35.80 | 350 |
| Sarasota, FL | $74,250 | $76,370 | $35.70 | 40 |
| New York, NY | $74,190 | $65,710 | $35.67 | 1,720 |
| Waterbury, CT | $72,910 | $72,990 | $35.05 | 60 |
| Lincoln, NE | $72,600 | $65,620 | $34.90 | 40 |
| Orlando, FL | $72,410 | $73,140 | $34.81 | 170 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $72,260 | $73,440 | $34.74 | 120 |
| Durham, NC | $72,220 | $75,470 | $34.72 | 40 |
| Atlanta, GA | $71,380 | $71,070 | $34.32 | 210 |
| Greensboro, NC | $71,270 | $73,540 | $34.27 | 40 |
| San Antonio, TX | $70,820 | $68,650 | $34.05 | 50 |
| Buffalo, NY | $70,520 | $78,150 | $33.91 | 40 |
| Rochester, NY | $70,490 | $64,990 | $33.89 | 70 |
| Nashville, TN | $70,490 | $77,160 | $33.89 | 140 |
| Memphis, TN | $70,250 | $82,280 | $33.77 | 80 |
| Tucson, AZ | $70,080 | $76,350 | $33.69 | 30 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $69,490 | $64,090 | $33.41 | 40 |
| Syracuse, NY | $68,610 | $74,740 | $32.99 | 30 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $68,500 | $68,140 | $32.93 | 50 |
| Charlotte, NC | $68,240 | $76,740 | $32.81 | 260 |
| Akron, OH | $67,510 | $54,350 | $32.46 | 50 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $65,620 | $62,800 | $31.55 | 70 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $65,550 | $55,930 | $31.52 | 80 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $64,980 | $58,720 | $31.24 | 30 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $64,560 | $59,080 | $31.04 | 330 |
| Charleston, SC | $64,490 | $62,180 | $31.00 | 40 |
| Cleveland, OH | $63,630 | $57,590 | $30.59 | 80 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $63,310 | $63,950 | $30.44 | 50 |
| Allentown, PA | $60,390 | $48,060 | $29.03 | 40 |
| Jackson, MS | $59,980 | $56,370 | $28.84 | 40 |
| Louisville, KY | $58,730 | $57,710 | $28.24 | 40 |
| Gulfport, MS | $57,780 | $61,660 | $27.78 | n/a |
| Portland, ME | $56,840 | $45,230 | $27.33 | n/a |
| Wichita, KS | $56,630 | $44,440 | $27.22 | 30 |
| Deltona, FL | $54,750 | $56,270 | $26.32 | 50 |
| Wilmington, NC | $50,730 | $45,100 | $24.39 | 80 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $50,640 | $37,320 | $24.35 | 110 |
| Charleston, WV | $50,120 | $49,100 | $24.09 | 30 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $47,310 | $35,790 | $22.75 | n/a |
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Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary: questions
Where do fire inspectors and investigators make the most money?
In San Jose, CA, with an average of $153,240 a year, among the 83 metro areas we cover.
What is the average fire inspectors and investigators salary in the U.S.?
$78,670 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $75,920, so half of fire inspectors and investigators earn more than that and half less.
What salary should fire inspectors and investigators ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of fire inspectors and investigators nationwide earn between $58,690 (25th percentile) and $95,120 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays fire inspectors and investigators the most?
Washington, with a statewide average of $114,250 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is fire inspectors and investigators pay the lowest?
Pittsburgh, PA, at $47,310 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2021.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.