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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Fire Inspector salaries in 2026 span a wider range than most people realize. The weighted national median is $77,981, but geography reshapes that number dramatically. In Sunnyvale, the median is $142,040. We analyzed BLS-sourced salary distributions across 288 U.S. cities and 46 states to map the complete compensation landscape.
Positioned in Protective Services within the broader Public Safety industry, Fire Inspectors typically hold High school + experience. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is field. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$86,430 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Fire Inspector in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $142,040 — $86,430 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($55,610). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The salary distribution for Fire Inspectors reveals a $54,586 spread from entry to senior. At $77,981, the median sits $2,386 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $56,146 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $110,732 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $132,660 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $56,057. That $76,603 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
A Fire Inspector in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $142,040 — $86,430 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($55,610). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Fire Inspector is $56,146, while senior-level (P90) earners average $110,732. That $54,586 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Fire Inspectors average $56,146 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $56,146 | $77,981 | $110,732 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £30,860 | £42,862 | £60,863 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$46,206 | CA$64,175 | CA$91,129 |
| Australia | 13 | A$54,981 | A$76,362 | A$108,434 |
| Sweden | 24 | 334,037 kr | 463,940 kr | 658,795 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $67,765 | $94,119 | $133,648 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $65,486 | $90,953 | $129,153 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $65,124 | $90,450 | $128,439 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $60,300 | $83,750 | $118,925 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $59,576 | $82,745 | $117,498 |
| Washington | 8 | $58,431 | $81,154 | $115,238 |
| New York | 5 | $54,993 | $76,380 | $108,459 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $54,994 | $76,380 | $108,460 |
| Florida | 22 | $54,577 | $75,801 | $107,638 |
| Colorado | 11 | $53,634 | $74,492 | $105,778 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $53,546 | $74,370 | $105,605 |
| Nevada | 5 | $53,450 | $74,236 | $105,415 |
| Arizona | 12 | $53,185 | $73,868 | $104,892 |
| Oregon | 5 | $53,064 | $73,700 | $104,654 |
| Idaho | 3 | $52,903 | $73,477 | $104,337 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $52,485 | $72,896 | $103,512 |
| Utah | 4 | $52,340 | $72,695 | $103,227 |
| Virginia | 7 | $51,479 | $71,499 | $101,528 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $50,813 | $70,573 | $100,214 |
| Alaska | 1 | $50,652 | $70,350 | $99,897 |
| Illinois | 5 | $50,073 | $69,546 | $98,755 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $48,830 | $67,819 | $96,303 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $48,240 | $67,000 | $95,140 |
| Montana | 1 | $48,240 | $67,000 | $95,140 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $48,079 | $66,777 | $94,823 |
| Texas | 40 | $47,842 | $66,447 | $94,355 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $47,758 | $66,330 | $94,189 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $47,517 | $65,995 | $93,713 |
| Georgia | 6 | $47,356 | $65,772 | $93,396 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $47,275 | $65,660 | $93,237 |
| Kansas | 4 | $47,034 | $65,325 | $92,762 |
| Michigan | 6 | $46,873 | $65,102 | $92,444 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $46,311 | $64,320 | $91,335 |
| Maryland | 1 | $46,310 | $64,320 | $91,334 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $45,828 | $63,650 | $90,383 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $45,828 | $63,650 | $90,383 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $44,622 | $61,975 | $88,005 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $44,381 | $61,640 | $87,529 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $43,778 | $60,803 | $86,340 |
| Missouri | 4 | $43,778 | $60,803 | $86,340 |
| Alabama | 5 | $43,609 | $60,568 | $86,007 |
| Indiana | 3 | $42,934 | $59,630 | $84,675 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $42,934 | $59,630 | $84,675 |
| Iowa | 2 | $42,451 | $58,960 | $83,723 |
| Ohio | 6 | $42,371 | $58,848 | $83,565 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $40,522 | $56,280 | $79,918 |
The state salary map for Fire Inspectors: California at $94,119, Massachusetts at $90,953, Hawaii at $90,450 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($56,280), Ohio ($58,848), Iowa ($58,960) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $37,839.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($142,040 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $67,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $142,040 | 212 | $67,000 | $85,151 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $132,660 | 198 | $67,000 | $79,987 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $123,280 | 184 | $67,000 | $74,823 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $121,270 | 181 | $67,000 | $73,717 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $119,260 | 178 | $67,000 | $72,610 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $118,590 | 177 | $67,000 | $72,241 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $118,590 | 177 | $67,000 | $72,241 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $115,910 | 173 | $67,000 | $70,766 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $115,910 | 173 | $67,000 | $70,766 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $113,230 | 169 | $67,000 | $69,291 |
Career economics for Fire Inspectors: entry level averages $56,146, mid-career hits $77,981, and experienced professionals reach $110,732. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires High school + experience, and the work is field. The outlook: steady. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The weighted national median salary for Fire Inspectors is $77,981 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $56,146, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $110,732.
The highest-paying city for Fire Inspectors is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $142,040. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($142,040), Santa Clara ($132,660), Irvine ($123,280). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Fire Inspector salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $55,610. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Fire Inspectors (10th percentile) average $56,146 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $102,269. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Fire Inspectors average $110,732 nationally — $54,586 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Fire Inspectors can earn up to $201,697.
The top-paying states for Fire Inspectors are California ($94,119 median), Massachusetts ($90,953 median), Hawaii ($90,450 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Fire Inspector involves High school + experience. The field is in the Public Safety sector (Protective Services), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically field.
With a national median of $77,981 and representation across 288 metro areas, Fire Inspector offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $54,586 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.