SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 33-2022.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $35,420 | $2,952 | $681 | $17.03 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $43,760 | $3,647 | $842 | $21.04 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $56,870 | $4,739 | $1,094 | $27.34 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $81,500 | $6,792 | $1,567 | $39.18 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $105,460 | $8,788 | $2,028 | $50.70 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists is $56,870, which is 12% higher. Among the 24 occupations of the field Protective Service, it ranks number 13 by median pay. With 2,780 jobs, it makes up about 0.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($66,640) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists pay by state
The highest median pay was in California ($97,370), Utah ($90,020) and Louisiana ($75,480). The lowest was in Mississippi ($31,720), Alabama ($37,430) and Arkansas ($43,310). The most jobs were in California (480), Georgia (350) and Oklahoma (310). The occupation is most concentrated in Oklahoma, where its share of all jobs is 10.2 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 480 | $97,370 | $102,750 | $46.81 |
| Utah | 50 | $90,020 | $88,490 | $43.28 |
| Louisiana | 90 | $75,480 | $75,250 | $36.29 |
| Oregon | 140 | $73,530 | $74,340 | $35.35 |
| Maine | 60 | $68,310 | $67,550 | $32.84 |
| Oklahoma | 310 | $61,700 | $74,280 | $29.66 |
| Arizona | 40 | $58,570 | $65,480 | $28.16 |
| New Jersey | 140 | $57,380 | $64,100 | $27.59 |
| Florida | 100 | $51,690 | $57,510 | $24.85 |
| Colorado | 210 | $50,170 | $57,220 | $24.12 |
| Georgia | 350 | $48,010 | $50,280 | $23.08 |
| Idaho | 50 | $47,050 | $55,810 | $22.62 |
| Arkansas | 140 | $43,310 | $42,540 | $20.82 |
| Alabama | 40 | $37,430 | $41,820 | $18.00 |
| Mississippi | 100 | $31,720 | $33,470 | $15.25 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Transportation Security Screeners$66,770 a year
- Firefighters$59,280 a year
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$58,940 a year
- Bailiffs$56,600 a year
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$55,940 a year
- Private Detectives and Investigators$51,220 a year
Common questions
How much do Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $56,870 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,420 and the highest-paid 10% more than $105,460.
How many people work as Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists?
About 2,780 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.