Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $217,690 or more. The middle half of fire inspectors and investigators in San Jose earn between $107,790 and $183,410.
- $89K10th
- $108K25th
- $159KMedian
- $183K75th
- $218K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $153,240 | $12,770 | $73.67 |
| Median | $159,220 | $13,268 | $76.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $107,790 | $8,982 | $51.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $183,410 | $15,284 | $88.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Fire inspectors and investigators in San Jose earn 50% more than the California average ($102,500) and 95% more than the U.S. average ($78,670). At the median the gap is +110% against the U.S. median of $75,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $153,240 | $159,220 | $88,930 | $217,690 | 40 |
| California | $102,500 | $99,230 | $60,080 | $150,590 | 1,350 |
| United States | $78,670 | $75,920 | $46,530 | $118,750 | 13,800 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $153,240, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $105,846 a year, or $8,821 a month and $4,071 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for fire inspectors and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $153,240 buys what about $138,775 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 10 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Jose$153,240
- San Francisco$124,850
- Sacramento$104,980
- Santa Rosa$97,510
- Riverside$96,440
- Santa Maria$94,650
- San Diego$94,490
- Los Angeles$93,350
- Fresno$89,780
- Oxnard$87,910
All Fire Inspectors and Investigators salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for fire inspectors and investigators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($153,240).
- San Jose, CA$153,240
- San Francisco, CA$124,850
- Seattle, WA$117,420
- Portland, OR$110,110
- Sacramento, CA$104,980
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Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in San Jose: questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make an hour in San Jose?
$73.67 an hour on average, and $76.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fire inspectors and investigators salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $107,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fire inspectors and investigators take-home pay in San Jose?
About $105,846 a year ($8,821 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $153,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do fire inspectors and investigators earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 95% more than the U.S. average for this job ($78,670).
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; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.8%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.44, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.44).
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