Fire Inspectors and Investigators
SOC Code: 33-2021 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Fire Inspectors and Investigators. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $109,450 | $128,898 | $148,346 | $167,794 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $107,536 | $127,546 | $147,534 | $167,544 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $104,354 | $125,008 | $145,662 | $166,317 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $68,411 | $100,589 | $132,746 | $164,923 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $85,155 | $109,637 | $134,118 | $158,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,653 | $116,334 | $132,995 | $149,677 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $88,379 | $108,597 | $128,814 | $149,032 |
| Binghamton, NY | $47,174 | $78,728 | $110,282 | $141,835 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $79,934 | $100,381 | $120,827 | $141,274 |
| Vallejo, CA | $83,075 | $101,733 | $120,411 | $139,069 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.6 | |
| Speaking | 3.5 | |
| Writing | 3.5 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.4 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 | |
| Monitoring | 3.2 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.2 | |
| Instructing | 3.2 | |
| Persuasion | 3.2 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Public Safety and Security | 4.7 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.3 |
| Building and Construction | 4.2 |
| Law and Government | 4.1 |
| Education and Training | 4.0 |
| English Language | 3.7 |
| Administration and Management | 3.0 |
| Chemistry | 2.9 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college | 27.5% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 26.0% |
| High school diploma | 22.6% |
| Associate's degree | 12.8% |
| Less than high school | 6.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 1.6% |
Typical Tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Code database software Consolidated Model of Fire and Smoke Transport CFAST Email software Fire Dynamics Software FDS National Fire Incident Reporting System NFIRS Web browser software Xerox Government systems FIREHOUSE Software
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