SOC 33-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Fire Inspectors and Investigators — Los Angeles
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Los Angeles, CA is $94,140 per year, 24.0% above the national median of $75,920.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Los Angeles, CA is $94,140 per year, 24.0% above the national median of $75,920. Pay ranges from under $49,750 at the tenth percentile to more than $128,990 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $76,840 to $107,010.
San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $159,220. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 234th of 740 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,750 | −34.5% |
| 25th | $76,840 | +1.2% |
| Median (50th) | $94,140 | +24.0% |
| 75th | $107,010 | +41.0% |
| 90th | $128,990 | +69.9% |
| Mean | $93,350 | +23.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $159,220 | 40 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $129,410 | 270 | |
| 3 | Sacramento | $107,690 | 100 | |
| 4 | Santa Rosa | $99,660 | 30 | |
| 5 | Riverside | $99,580 | 270 | |
| 6 | Oxnard | $98,150 | 50 | |
| 7 | Fresno | $98,090 | 30 | |
| 8 | San Diego | $97,250 | 80 | |
| 9 | Santa Maria | $86,830 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Los Angeles run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $94,140 buys what $85,041 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$94,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$85,041US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $94,140 a year, 24.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,750 to $128,990 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $159,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Los Angeles, CA?
The median annual wage is $94,140, or $45.26 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $75,920, so pay in Los Angeles, CA is 24.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Los Angeles, CA earns more than $128,990 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,750 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $159,220 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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