Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists (SOC 33-2022) earn a median $56,870 a year ($27.34 an hour) in the United States, with 2,780 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists do
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists enforce fire regulations, inspect forests for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. The SOC adds that they may report forest fires and weather conditions. They patrol assigned areas looking for forest fires, hazardous conditions and weather phenomena, locate fires on area maps using azimuth sighters and known landmarks, and estimate the size and characteristics of fires, reporting findings to base camps by radio or telephone. They relay messages about emergencies, accidents, locations of crew and personnel, and fire hazard conditions. They extinguish smaller fires with portable extinguishers, shovels and axes, direct crews working on firelines during forest fires, and conduct wildland firefighting training. They also compile and report meteorological data such as temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and velocity, and cloud formations. O*NET alternate titles include fire observer, fire ranger, fire prevention technician, fire management officer and district ranger. About 32 percent of respondents report a high school diploma, 24 percent a bachelor's degree and 18 percent an associate degree. Structural firefighting and building inspection are different occupations.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation (32 percent).
Also called: District Ranger, Environmental Protection Fire Control Officer, Fire Management Officer, Fire Management Technician, Fire Observer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.03 | $21.04 | $27.34 | $39.18 | $50.70 | $32.04 | 2,780 |
| Annual | $35,420 | $43,760 | $56,870 | $81,500 | $105,460 | $66,640 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $27.31 | $34.56 | $46.81 | $59.65 | $81.57 | $49.40 | 480 | 0.03 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $56,790 | $71,880 | $97,370 | $124,060 | $169,670 | $102,750 | ||||
| Utah | Hourly | $35.48 | $37.81 | $43.28 | $49.10 | $51.23 | $42.54 | 50 | 0.03 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $73,800 | $78,640 | $90,020 | $102,130 | $106,560 | $88,490 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $16.52 | $23.75 | $36.29 | $49.27 | $49.27 | $36.18 | 90 | 0.05 | 2.66 |
| Annual | $34,370 | $49,400 | $75,480 | $102,480 | $102,480 | $75,250 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $27.94 | $30.06 | $35.35 | $42.64 | $42.64 | $35.74 | 140 | 0.07 | 3.87 |
| Annual | $58,100 | $62,520 | $73,530 | $88,690 | $88,690 | $74,340 | ||||
| Maine | Hourly | $25.97 | $27.01 | $32.84 | $34.15 | $38.14 | $32.48 | 60 | 0.09 | 4.82 |
| Annual | $54,020 | $56,180 | $68,310 | $71,030 | $79,330 | $67,550 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $27.31 | $34.56 | $46.81 | $59.65 | $81.57 | $49.40 | 480 | 0.03 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $56,790 | $71,880 | $97,370 | $124,060 | $169,670 | $102,750 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $20.50 | $21.53 | $23.08 | $26.79 | $29.37 | $24.17 | 350 | 0.07 | 4.04 |
| Annual | $42,640 | $44,770 | $48,010 | $55,710 | $61,080 | $50,280 | ||||
| Oklahoma | Hourly | $19.41 | $21.04 | $29.66 | $47.73 | $55.98 | $35.71 | 310 | 0.18 | 10.21 |
| Annual | $40,370 | $43,760 | $61,700 | $99,270 | $116,430 | $74,280 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $20.27 | $23.19 | $24.12 | $29.95 | $39.15 | $27.51 | 210 | 0.07 | 4.03 |
| Annual | $42,160 | $48,240 | $50,170 | $62,290 | $81,430 | $57,220 | ||||
| Arkansas | Hourly | $16.83 | $18.00 | $20.82 | $22.60 | $23.65 | $20.45 | 140 | 0.11 | 5.88 |
| Annual | $35,010 | $37,440 | $43,310 | $47,010 | $49,180 | $42,540 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $30.84 | $37.67 | $51.59 | $59.67 | $69.71 | $50.19 | 50 | 0.05 | 2.67 |
| Annual | $64,150 | $78,350 | $107,320 | $124,120 | $145,000 | $104,400 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $37.31 | $43.35 | $50.70 | $57.57 | $60.27 | $50.77 | 130 | 0.02 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $77,600 | $90,160 | $105,460 | $119,750 | $125,360 | $105,600 | ||||
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Hourly | $22.43 | $37.09 | $49.27 | $49.27 | $49.27 | $44.95 | 50 | 0.11 | 6.07 |
| Annual | $46,660 | $77,140 | $102,480 | $102,480 | $102,480 | $93,490 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $18.50 | $37.54 | $46.34 | $48.68 | $67.60 | $44.64 | 40 | 0.03 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $78,080 | $96,380 | $101,250 | $140,600 | $92,850 | ||||
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | Hourly | $35.48 | $38.37 | $43.28 | $49.10 | $49.79 | $43.23 | 40 | 0.04 | 2.38 |
| Annual | $73,800 | $79,810 | $90,020 | $102,130 | $103,560 | $89,910 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $37.31 | $43.35 | $50.70 | $57.57 | $60.27 | $50.77 | 130 | 0.02 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $77,600 | $90,160 | $105,460 | $119,750 | $125,360 | $105,600 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $21.62 | $23.33 | $28.00 | $38.85 | $42.10 | $31.31 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $44,970 | $48,530 | $58,240 | $80,810 | $87,560 | $65,130 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $27.31 | $27.31 | $38.51 | $89.07 | $101.74 | $55.36 | 60 | 0.03 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $56,790 | $56,790 | $80,100 | $185,270 | $211,610 | $115,140 | ||||
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | Hourly | $20.27 | $20.27 | $20.27 | $28.06 | $37.81 | $25.23 | 50 | 0.32 | 17.91 |
| Annual | $42,160 | $42,160 | $42,160 | $58,360 | $78,640 | $52,480 | ||||
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Hourly | $22.43 | $37.09 | $49.27 | $49.27 | $49.27 | $44.95 | 50 | 0.11 | 6.07 |
| Annual | $46,660 | $77,140 | $102,480 | $102,480 | $102,480 | $93,490 | ||||
Top industries employing forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 46.8% of forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists nationally (1,300 jobs) at a median $77,600 a year ($37.31 an hour), followed by State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (39.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 1,300 | 46.8% | $77,600 | $37.31 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 1,100 | 39.6% | $48,280 | $23.21 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,780). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $42,600 for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists in May 2021 and $56,870 in May 2025, with employment of 2,770 and 2,780.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $42,600 | $20.48 | 2,770 |
| May 2022 | $48,110 | $23.13 | 2,290 |
| May 2023 | $54,080 | $26.00 | 2,270 |
| May 2024 | $52,380 | $25.19 | 2,780 |
| May 2025 | $56,870 | $27.34 | 2,780 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
15 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $46.81 | $97,370 | $56,790 | $169,670 | 480 | 0.03 | 1.48 |
| 2 | Utah profile | $43.28 | $90,020 | $73,800 | $106,560 | 50 | 0.03 | 1.60 |
| 3 | Louisiana profile | $36.29 | $75,480 | $34,370 | $102,480 | 90 | 0.05 | 2.66 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $35.35 | $73,530 | $58,100 | $88,690 | 140 | 0.07 | 3.87 |
| 5 | Maine profile | $32.84 | $68,310 | $54,020 | $79,330 | 60 | 0.09 | 4.82 |
| 6 | Oklahoma profile | $29.66 | $61,700 | $40,370 | $116,430 | 310 | 0.18 | 10.21 |
| 7 | Arizona profile | $28.16 | $58,570 | $44,620 | $90,490 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.71 |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $27.59 | $57,380 | $43,910 | $87,560 | 140 | 0.03 | 1.82 |
| 9 | Florida profile | $24.85 | $51,690 | $45,610 | $73,240 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.54 |
| 10 | Colorado profile | $24.12 | $50,170 | $42,160 | $81,430 | 210 | 0.07 | 4.03 |
| 11 | Georgia profile | $23.08 | $48,010 | $42,640 | $61,080 | 350 | 0.07 | 4.04 |
| 12 | Idaho profile | $22.62 | $47,050 | $43,680 | $57,620 | 50 | 0.05 | 2.95 |
| 13 | Arkansas profile | $20.82 | $43,310 | $35,010 | $49,180 | 140 | 0.11 | 5.88 |
| 14 | Alabama profile | $18.00 | $37,430 | $34,720 | $51,490 | 40 | 0.02 | 1.19 |
| 15 | Mississippi profile | $15.25 | $31,720 | $29,890 | $39,750 | 100 | 0.08 | 4.58 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (33-2020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Protective Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 33-2022 Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 33-2022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-2022.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.