How to Become a Fire Inspector / Investigator
Inspect buildings for fire hazards and code compliance, and investigate how fires and explosions started. It typically requires a high school diploma (with firefighter experience), with a median salary of $75,920 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$75,920/yr
Middle half
$58,690 to $95,120
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
1,500
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Fire Codes
- Investigation
- Report Writing
- Attention to Detail
Related careers
- Criminal Justice / Law Enforcement$76,210 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Fire Inspector / Investigator make?
The median pay for a Fire Inspector / Investigator is $75,920 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $58,690 and $95,120 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Fire Inspector / Investigator?
The usual entry point is a high school diploma (with firefighter experience). Common majors are Fire Science and Emergency Management.
Is Fire Inspector / Investigator a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 1,500 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Fire Inspector / Investigator use most?
Common skills for this role are Fire Codes, Investigation, Report Writing, and Attention to Detail.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).