I conduct fire and life safety inspections across different settings, from schools to construction sites, and respond to emergencies such as fires and natural disasters. My role involves educating the community on fire prevention, ensuring safety compliance, and assessing damage after incidents. I value the face-to-face interactions, whether it's teaching fire safety to kids or helping business owners understand regulations.
CAREER
Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$64,610
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+5.9% (as fast as the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Fire Inspectors and Investigators Do
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.
Other Job Titles Fire Inspectors and Investigators May Have
Arson Investigator, Fire Code Inspector, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire Official, Fire Prevention Inspector, Fire Prevention Specialist, Fire Protection Specialist, Fire Safety Inspector, Fire and Explosion Investigator
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- 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.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Some college, no degree (28%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Everyone
I recommend taking fire science and fire technology classes to see if it's interesting to you. I suggest Fire Inspector 1A and 1B. I started taking fire inspector classes, where I learned what my day-to-day responsibilities would look like in that role. That was very helpful for me. It's also beneficial to do a ride-a-long or volunteer at a fire station to get some hands-on experience. You could also look into the entry-level fire prevention trainee position, as I did.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
