Fire Inspector
M-05M Other Inspection and code jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 33-2021.00
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $82,390
- work over
40 h a week - 41%
- load index
from O*NET data - 2.7/5
- preparation
O*NET - Job Zone 3
Pay
This level's pay
No published pay record names this level: no public record found in sources S1-S7 that names this rung. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.
All pay records and context (1)
- State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Inspector I $33,840 to $49,798 · Inspector II $37,144 to $55,134 · Inspector III $40,918 to $61,130 · Inspector IV $45,521 to $71,055 · Inspector V $51,158 to $81,351 · Inspector VI $57,614 to $93,138 · Inspector VII $65,104 to $106,634 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source
Whole occupation: all Fire Inspectors and Investigators, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000033202113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 1,030 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000033202101).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000033202113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 1,030 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000033202101).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Fire Inspectors and Investigators, not level-specific BLS
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
BLS
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- No Texas projection is published for this occupation.
- United States
- +3.4% jobs · about 1,500 openings a year (14,700 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2022, n = 46 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2022, n = 46 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 85% · irregular 15% · seasonal 0%
Physical load 2.7 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (2.42, 6 measures) and an exposure index (2.88, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (2.42, 6 measures) and an exposure index (2.88, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing3.25
- Walking or running3.15
- Bending or twisting2.45
- Climbing ladders2.03
- Kneeling or crawling1.91
- Keeping balance1.75
Exposure
- Outdoors, all weather4.33
- Very hot or cold3.43
- Hazardous equipment2.67
- Hazardous conditions2.54
- Cramped space2.52
- High places2.52
- Protective gear2.18
Getting in
- License
- Texas: TCFP Inspector certification is required for fire inspectors employed and appointed by a fire department (approved training and exam). State Fire Marshal licenses: not checked (unreachable).
- Degree
- 4% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Post-Secondary Certificate
- Experience
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years of related experience is the most common answer (25% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Fire Inspectors and Investigators, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 3 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior). Texas: Basic Inspector certification (TCFP), required for employed and appointed fire inspectors (Commission-approved inspector training program, TCFP inspector exam, fingerprint background check, application fee).
Moves to the side 6
- M1 Electrical Inspector O*NET lists Construction and Building Inspectors as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.87.
- M Fire Captain O*NET lists First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.84. License: depends on the work.
- M Fire Protection Engineer O*NET lists Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.72. License: depends on the work.
- M Safety Engineer O*NET lists Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.83. License: depends on the work.
What the work is 6 core tasks
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.
- 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.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Social Perceptiveness
- Instructing
- Monitoring
Sources (3)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000033202113, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 33-2021.00 Fire Inspectors and Investigators, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
