Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Also called: Arson Investigator, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire Prevention InspectorInspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.
On a phone, press and hold a picture to save it to Photos.
opens your phone's share sheet, where you can save both to Photos
What the data says: AI could halve the time on 15 of its 30 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 4.2% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 0.6% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Fire inspectors”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 4.3 hires for every 10 job openings in government, which employs about 91% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.4.3 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $78,110 | $61,780 to $80,460 | 40 |
| Arizona | $74,780 | $62,140 to $78,420 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $57,990 | $45,270 to $74,050 | 40 |
| California | $99,230 | $79,370 to $122,730 | 1,350 |
| Colorado | $85,750 | $79,260 to $99,280 | not published |
| Connecticut | $80,490 | $60,460 to $97,830 | 420 |
| Florida | $75,660 | $60,210 to $94,260 | 1,060 |
| Georgia | $64,550 | $54,560 to $79,650 | 300 |
| Idaho | $72,810 | $66,960 to $97,700 | 30 |
| Illinois | $62,400 | $55,470 to $93,100 | 440 |
| Indiana | $73,340 | $59,280 to $85,320 | 200 |
| Iowa | $81,860 | $54,310 to $95,760 | 30 |
| Kansas | $64,290 | $50,000 to $83,910 | 90 |
| Kentucky | $55,970 | $48,520 to $61,360 | 100 |
| Louisiana | $64,820 | $47,700 to $82,190 | 80 |
| Maine | $58,240 | $36,050 to $79,430 | not published |
| Maryland | $98,730 | $79,640 to $100,990 | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $81,140 | $71,820 to $97,510 | 200 |
| Michigan | $77,460 | $67,600 to $90,570 | 250 |
| Minnesota | $84,410 | $69,540 to $96,920 | 230 |
| Mississippi | $55,260 | $49,280 to $61,660 | 140 |
| Missouri | $77,240 | $44,460 to $85,710 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $76,770 | $56,120 to $86,840 | 60 |
| Nevada | $93,450 | $78,420 to $104,260 | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $75,230 | $65,170 to $82,570 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $60,100 | $48,620 to $81,080 | 1,290 |
| New Mexico | $64,680 | $60,760 to $71,860 | 160 |
| New York | $73,920 | $60,510 to $86,990 | 1,200 |
| North Carolina | $66,820 | $46,940 to $78,990 | 870 |
| North Dakota | $80,320 | $70,130 to $84,930 | 40 |
| Ohio | $59,280 | $49,690 to $75,230 | 520 |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 | $32,180 to $65,330 | 160 |
| Oregon | $115,080 | $68,230 to $127,660 | not published |
| Pennsylvania | $59,080 | $37,220 to $77,190 | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $78,100 | $61,670 to $87,690 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $61,890 | $55,150 to $76,910 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $63,400 | $52,880 to $80,460 | 390 |
| Texas | $82,390 | $69,370 to $94,710 | 1,030 |
| Utah | $72,760 | $58,720 to $84,460 | 60 |
| Virginia | $70,460 | $59,060 to $81,280 | 100 |
| Washington | $122,900 | $95,640 to $130,740 | 380 |
| West Virginia | $52,490 | $46,440 to $59,520 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $66,600 | $48,950 to $87,140 | 160 |
Nationally: $75,920. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 15 of its 30 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion. | Not published |
| Not much | Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found. | Not published |
| Not much | Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms. | Not published |
See all 30 tasks
| AI alone | Instruct children about the dangers of fire. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects. | Not published |
| AI + software | Coordinate efforts with other organizations, such as law enforcement agencies. | Not published |
| Not much | Attend training classes to maintain current knowledge of fire prevention, safety, and firefighting procedures. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems. | Not published |
| AI alone | Write detailed reports of fire inspections performed, fire code violations observed, and corrective recommendations offered. | Not published |
| AI alone | Identify corrective actions necessary to bring properties into compliance with applicable fire codes, laws, regulations, and standards, and explain these measures to property owners or their representatives. | Not published |
| AI + software | Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them. | Not published |
| AI + software | Inspect properties that store, handle, and use hazardous materials to ensure compliance with laws, codes, and regulations, and issue hazardous materials permits to facilities found in compliance. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop or review fire exit plans. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect and test fire protection or fire detection systems to verify that such systems are installed in accordance with appropriate laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, and standards. | Not published |
| AI alone | Teach fire investigation techniques to other firefighter personnel. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review blueprints and plans for new or remodeled buildings to ensure the structures meet fire safety codes. | Not published |
| AI alone | Teach public education programs on fire safety and prevention. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct fire exit drills to monitor and evaluate evacuation procedures. | Not published |
| AI alone | Recommend changes to fire prevention, inspection, and fire code endorsement procedures. | Not published |
| AI + software | Subpoena and interview witnesses, property owners, and building occupants to obtain information and sworn testimony. | Not published |
| Not much | Test sites and materials to establish facts, such as burn patterns and flash points of materials, using test equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Issue permits for public assemblies. | Not published |
| Not much | Arrange for the replacement of defective fire fighting equipment and for repair of fire alarm and sprinkler systems, making minor repairs such as servicing fire extinguishers when feasible. | Not published |
| AI alone | Develop and coordinate fire prevention programs, such as false alarm billing, fire inspection reporting, and hazardous materials management. | Not published |
| Not much | Supervise staff, training them, planning their work, and evaluating their performance. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct internal investigation to determine negligence and violation of laws and regulations by fire department employees. | Not published |
| Not much | Dust evidence or portions of fire scenes for latent fingerprints. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 30 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 30 tasks fall under 24 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #12 Explain regulations, policies, or procedures
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspect facilities or equipment | |||
| Teach safety procedures or standards to others | |||
| Investigate criminal or legal matters | |||
| Issue documentation | |||
| Investigate incidents or accidents | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment |
Show all 24 activities
| Direct security or safety activities or operations | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Explain regulations, policies, or procedures | |||
| Examine materials or documentation for accuracy or compliance | |||
| Analyze biological or chemical substances or related data | |||
| Interview people to obtain information | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities | |||
| Record images with photographic or audiovisual equipment | |||
| Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards | |||
| Evaluate personnel capabilities or performance | |||
| Advise others on workplace health or safety issues | |||
| Record information about legal matters | |||
| Process forensic or legal evidence | |||
| Present information in legal proceedings |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An explanation or answer38%
- A document or report26%
- Advice or a recommendation15%
- An analysis or summary6%
- A plan or strategy6%
How they worked with Claude
50% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for fire inspectors and investigators specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 7,115 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 2 First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers Low +3.7% 6%
- 3 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 4%
- 4 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Firefighters Low +3.7% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 8,427 moves in
- 1 Firefighters Low +3.7% 5%
- 2 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 4 First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers Low +3.7% 4%
- 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 7% less than high school
- 23% high school
- 27% postsecondary certificate
- 26% some college
- 13% associate's
- 2% bachelor's
- 1% post-bachelor's certificate
- 2% master's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 48 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 2% less than high school
- 19% high school
- 33% some college
- 11% associate's
- 28% bachelor's
- 6% master's
- 1% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Fire inspectors” · 349 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Fire inspectors”
3 programs: Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician, Fire Science/Fire-fighting and Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
>85% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | not published | |
| a certification | not published | |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 3 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (Arson and Bomb Investigator; FIRE INSPECTOR; FIRE MARSHALL). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Fire Inspectors and Investigators” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/33-2021.00