Protective Services33-2021.00Specialization

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.

$74,160
Median Pay
6 months to 2 years
Training
🟑
AI-Augmented

This is a specialization of

Firefighters

Career Overview Video

AI Impact Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 3/6: balanced factors means AI will assist but humans remain essential

🟑AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Medium+1

29% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

+4% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 18/25

Total Score3/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

Key Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Instruct children about the dangers of fire.
  • Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found.

Education & Training

Typical Entry Education

Post-secondary certificate

Time to Job Ready

1-3 years

Based on Job Zone 3. For formal education duration only, see education_duration.

Technology Skills

Inspection softwareMicrosoft OfficeFire investigation toolsCAD viewersReport writing

Key Abilities

Problem SensitivityOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionWritten ExpressionOral ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingNear VisionCategory Flexibility

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Compensation Details

$46,360
10th Percentile
$74,160
Median
$137,220
90th Percentile

Based on 14,200 employed workers

Also Known As

Alarm InspectorAlarm Sprinkler InspectorArson and Bomb InvestigatorArson InvestigatorBomb InvestigatorBuilding InspectorCanine Handler (K9 Handler)Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI)

Data from O*NET 30.1 and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics

O*NET Code: 33-2021.00