Fire Investigators
Overview
Introduction
Fire investigators analyze the cause, origin, and circumstances of fires involving loss of life and considerable property damage; interview witnesses and prepare investigation reports; and arrest and seek prosecution of arsonists. They also investigate explosions. They work for local fire departments, state fire marshal’s offices, and private companies. Approximately 14,900 fire investigators and inspectors are employed in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Fire investigators and inspectors earned median annual salaries of $74,160 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Earnings ranged from $46,360 to $137,220. Fire investigators and inspectors in state government jobs earned approximately $66,060 a year, while those who were employed by local agencies earned $85,540.
As in all occupations, the experts receive higher wages, ...
Work Environment
There is no average workday for investigators. They may spend days at a time in the field conducting scene surveys and interviewing involved parties and then spend the next several days or weeks in the office preparing the reports. Whenever a suspicious fire occurs, they must be ready to jump into action—whether at night, on weekends, or during a holiday. Fire scenes can be very dangerous and u...
Outlook
Job opportunities for fire investigators are expected to grow about as fast as the average for all careers from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL says that "although the number of structural fires occurring across the country has been falling for some time, fire investigators will still be needed to determine the cause of fires and explosions." The most...
