Protective service
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.
Median pay
$75,920
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,600
Time to qualify*
6.5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Fire inspectors and investigators
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- 5 years or more
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Fire inspectors and investigators: 41% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
- Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.
- Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
- Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
- Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
- Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
- Inspect buildings to locate hazardous conditions and fire code violations, such as accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits.
- Examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire.
Also called: Arson Investigator · Fire Code Inspector · Fire Inspector · Fire Investigator · Fire Official · Fire Prevention Inspector · Fire Prevention Specialist · Fire Protection Specialist
Outlook and AI
Fire inspectors and investigators held 14,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 15,300 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Fire inspectors and investigators vs. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Fire inspectors and investigators vs. Firefighter
- Fire inspectors and investigators vs. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Fire inspectors and investigators vs. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Fire inspectors and investigators vs. Construction and building inspectors
- Fire inspectors and investigators vs. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Fire inspectors and investigators vs. Compliance officer
- Fire inspectors and investigators vs. Transportation inspector