Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.
Also called: Alarm Inspector, Alarm Sprinkler Inspector, Arson and Bomb Investigator, Arson Investigator, Bomb Investigator, Building Inspector
Median pay
$75,920
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$46,530 – $118,750
People employed
13,800
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 4.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Tight deadlines are common
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay by state
Annual median pay by state (43 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What fire inspectors and investigators do
- 01Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
- 02Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.
- 03Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
- 04Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
- 05Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
- 06Subpoena and interview witnesses, property owners, and building occupants to obtain information and sworn testimony.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Building and Construction
- Law and Government
- Education and Training
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from fire inspectors and investigators
- Construction and Building Inspectors91% · −2%
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators85% · group pay
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers79% · +23%
- Transit and Railroad Police79% · +19%
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors79% · group pay
Change into fire inspectors and investigators
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators85% · $80,730
- Construction and Building Inspectors81% · $74,690
- Transit and Railroad Police79% · $90,230
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians78% · $61,560
- Police Identification and Records Officers76% · $93,790
Majors that lead here
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
- Fire Science/Fire-fighting
- Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.