Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $113,410 or more. The middle half of fire inspectors and investigators in Washington earn between $68,740 and $107,950.
- $63K10th
- $69K25th
- $88KMedian
- $108K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $88,340 | $7,362 | $42.47 |
| Median | $87,630 | $7,302 | $42.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,740 | $5,728 | $33.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,950 | $8,996 | $51.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Fire inspectors and investigators in Washington earn 12% more than the U.S. average ($78,670). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $75,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $88,340 | $87,630 | $62,770 | $113,410 | 110 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $88,340, a single filer in Washington takes home about $66,437 a year, or $5,536 a month and $2,555 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $67,820 | $5,652 |
| Working in MD | $66,993 | $5,583 |
| Working in VA | $66,712 | $5,559 |
| Working in DC | $66,437 | $5,536 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for fire inspectors and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $88,340 buys what about $81,132 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$89,970
- Philadelphia, PA$64,560
- Atlantic City, NJ$65,550
- Pittsburgh, PA$47,310
- Allentown, PA$60,390
- Trenton, NJ$78,850
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 Washington: questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make an hour in Washington?
$42.47 an hour on average, and $42.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fire inspectors and investigators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fire inspectors and investigators take-home pay in Washington?
About $66,437 a year ($5,536 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $88,340.
Do fire inspectors and investigators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.40, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.40).
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