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Salary comparison

Fire Inspectors and Investigators vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: Who Earns More?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers out-earn Fire Inspectors and Investigators by $290 a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Fire Inspectors and Investigators land at $75,920 and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers at $76,210. The education gap is real: fire inspectors and investigator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while police and sheriff's patrol officer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Fire Inspectors and Investigators is Washington ($122,900); for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers it's California ($118,880).

Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Median salary
$75,920
$76,210
Hourly rate
$36.5/hr
$36.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$46,530
$47,510
Senior level (90th %)
$118,750
$115,120
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
13,800
670,520
Job growth (10-year)
3.8%
3.1%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
Washington
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Fire Inspectors and Investigators median pay.

State
Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Washington
$122,900
$102,080
Oregon
$115,080
$88,140
California
$99,230
$118,880
Maryland
$98,730
$77,970
Nevada
$93,450
$78,140
Colorado
$85,750
$97,350
Minnesota
$84,410
$83,360
Massachusetts
$81,140
$78,940
Connecticut
$80,490
$82,170
Arizona
$74,780
$78,880
New York
$73,920
$92,790
Wisconsin
$66,600
$78,090
Illinois
$62,400
$100,520
New Jersey
$60,100
$92,610
Pennsylvania
$59,080
$85,470

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Fire Inspectors and Investigators or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn more nationally. The median is $75,920 for Fire Inspectors and Investigators versus $76,210 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, a difference of $290. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Fire Inspectors and Investigators or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Fire Inspectors and Investigators has the better 10-year outlook at 3.8% projected growth, compared to 3.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Fire Inspectors and Investigators or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Fire Inspectors and Investigators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Fire Inspectors and Investigators get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Fire Inspectors and Investigators at $122,900/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Fire Inspectors and Investigators vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Fire Inspectors and Investigators earn $122,900 vs. $102,080 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary breakdownView →Full Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Fire Inspectors and Investigators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by take-home payExplore →How to become a fire inspectors and investigatorsGuide →How to become a police and sheriff's patrol officersGuide →