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Fire Inspector

$78,060
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Inspect buildings for fire hazards, enforce fire codes, and investigate the causes of fires.

Where you work

Buildings, construction sites, and fire scenes.

The hours

Mostly weekday schedule, with some call-outs

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$78,060
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~1,500
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+4%
About average
Working in the U.S.
14,700
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Certificate program

Training path: Certificate + certification.

License or certification

Inspectors complete state-certified fire inspector or investigator training.

You can earn while you train. This field has a genuinely paid pathway in — an apprenticeship, a paid academy, or employer-funded training — so you draw a paycheck instead of taking on debt to learn it.

What it takes

Code knowledgeInspectionInvestigationReport writing

The honest take

A certificate-level move up from firefighting, with strong pay and regular hours.

Standard Occupational Classification 33-2021. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.