How much do Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists make?
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists earn a median annual salary of $56,870 in the United States, which works out to roughly $27.34 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $35,420 at the entry level and $105,460 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $43,760 and $81,500 a year.
That is $4,520 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists salary range by percentile
Half of all Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists earn between $43,760 and $81,500 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,420 | $17.03 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $43,760 | $21.04 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $56,870 | $27.34 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $81,500 | $39.18 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,460 | $50.70 |
Highest-paying states for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists pay at $97,370 a year, followed by Utah ($90,020) and Louisiana ($75,480). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $31,720 — a gap of $65,650 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $97,370 | $46.81 | +71% |
| 2 | Utah | $90,020 | $43.28 | +58% |
| 3 | Louisiana | $75,480 | $36.29 | +33% |
| 4 | Oregon | $73,530 | $35.35 | +29% |
| 5 | Maine | $68,310 | $32.84 | +20% |
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 15 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 3,000 people work as Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $66,640 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other protective service roles with similar pay.