Fire Inspector Salary by State: Washington Leads at $122,900, Oklahoma Trails at $37,320
The fire inspector salary in the United States had a median of $75,920 a year ($36.50 an hour) in May 2025, across 13,800 fire inspectors and investigators, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Washington paid the most at $122,900; Oklahoma paid the least at $37,320.
Fire inspector pay in 43 states
| Rank | State | Median annual pay | Median hourly | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $122,900 | $59.09 | 380 |
| 2 | Oregon | $115,080 | $55.33 | Not published |
| 3 | California | $99,230 | $47.71 | 1350 |
| 4 | Maryland | $98,730 | $47.46 | 270 |
| 5 | Nevada | $93,450 | $44.93 | 190 |
| 6 | Colorado | $85,750 | $41.23 | Not published |
| 7 | Minnesota | $84,410 | $40.58 | 230 |
| 8 | Texas | $82,390 | $39.61 | 1030 |
| 9 | Iowa | $81,860 | $39.35 | 30 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $81,140 | $39.01 | 200 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $80,490 | $38.70 | 420 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $80,320 | $38.61 | 40 |
| 13 | Alabama | $78,110 | $37.55 | 40 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $78,100 | $37.55 | 50 |
| 15 | Michigan | $77,460 | $37.24 | 250 |
| 16 | Missouri | $77,240 | $37.13 | 110 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $76,770 | $36.91 | 60 |
| 18 | Florida | $75,660 | $36.38 | 1060 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $75,230 | $36.17 | 50 |
| 20 | Arizona | $74,780 | $35.95 | 240 |
| 21 | New York | $73,920 | $35.54 | 1200 |
| 22 | Indiana | $73,340 | $35.26 | 200 |
| 23 | Idaho | $72,810 | $35.01 | 30 |
| 24 | Utah | $72,760 | $34.98 | 60 |
| 25 | Virginia | $70,460 | $33.88 | 100 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $66,820 | $32.12 | 870 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $66,600 | $32.02 | 160 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $64,820 | $31.16 | 80 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $64,680 | $31.09 | 160 |
| 30 | Georgia | $64,550 | $31.04 | 300 |
| 31 | Kansas | $64,290 | $30.91 | 90 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $63,400 | $30.48 | 390 |
| 33 | Illinois | $62,400 | $30.00 | 440 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $61,890 | $29.76 | 110 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $60,100 | $28.90 | 1290 |
| 36 | Ohio | $59,280 | $28.50 | 520 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $59,080 | $28.41 | 280 |
| 38 | Maine | $58,240 | $28.00 | Not published |
| 39 | Arkansas | $57,990 | $27.88 | 40 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $55,970 | $26.91 | 100 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $55,260 | $26.57 | 140 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $52,490 | $25.24 | 70 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $37,320 | $17.94 | 160 |
BLS did not publish a median for: Alaska, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming.
What drives the gap
The highest medians sit in West Coast states where fire prevention bureaus are large and living costs are high. Small employment counts in many states mean a few positions can move the median, so read state figures alongside the employment column.
Method
Figures are the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates for May 2025, occupation code 33-2021 Fire Inspectors and Investigators, from the BLS state and national data files. Median annual pay is the 50th percentile wage. “Not published” means BLS withheld the employment estimate.
Requirements depend on the code edition your state and local fire marshal have adopted. Confirm with your authority having jurisdiction.