Fire Inspectors and Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: $76K vs $94K Median Pay

Fire Inspectors and Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: what changes?

Consider Fire Inspectors and Investigators if you want to 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. Consider First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers if you would rather directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control. Both list postsecondary nondegree award; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Fire Inspectors and Investigators (5 years or more) and First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Fire Inspectors and Investigators and First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

National median pay (2025): $75,920
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: 5 years or more; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,600

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Fire Inspectors and Investigators brief

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

National median pay (2025): $93,530
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Assign firefighters to jobs at strategic locations to facilitate rescue of persons and maximize application of extinguishing agents.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,600

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers brief

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers is at 6,600 annual openings, compared with 1,600 annual openings for Fire Inspectors and Investigators.

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers has the edge on median pay

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers is at $93,530, compared with $75,920 for Fire Inspectors and Investigators.

Fire Inspectors and Investigators has the edge on projected growth

Fire Inspectors and Investigators is at 4.2% projected growth, compared with 3.7% projected growth for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers.

51.7/ 100

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

62.9/ 100

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Fire Inspectors and Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Dimension	Fire Inspectors and Investigators	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Median pay (2025)	$75,920	$93,530
Pay percentile	65.9 percentile	78.4 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	4.2%	3.7%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	1,600	6,600
2025 employment	14,700	101,600
How you qualify	Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: 5 years or more; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	Prior related experience: 5 years or more.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Fire Inspectors and Investigators brief Read First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers brief

Fire Inspectors and Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers has the edge on median pay

Fire Inspectors and Investigators has the edge on projected growth

Fire Inspectors and Investigators vs First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Try another comparison

Fire Inspectors and Investigators vs Firefighter

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers vs Firefighter