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Salary comparison

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

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers out-earn Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists by $19K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists land at $56,870 and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers at $76,210. The education gap is real: forest fire inspectors and prevention specialist 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 Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists is California ($97,370); for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers it's California ($118,880).

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Median salary
$56,870
$76,210
Hourly rate
$27.34/hr
$36.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,420
$47,510
Senior level (90th %)
$105,460
$115,120
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
2,780
670,520
Job growth (10-year)
14.6%
3.1%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
California
California

Pay by state

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

State
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
California
$97,370
$118,880
Utah
$90,020
$77,310
Louisiana
$75,480
$48,380
Oregon
$73,530
$88,140
Maine
$68,310
$67,050
Oklahoma
$61,700
$59,700
Arizona
$58,570
$78,880
New Jersey
$57,380
$92,610
Florida
$51,690
$74,470
Colorado
$50,170
$97,350
Georgia
$48,010
$58,120
Idaho
$47,050
$66,990
Arkansas
$43,310
$47,670
Alabama
$37,430
$51,270
Mississippi
$31,720
$46,140

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn more nationally. The median is $56,870 for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists versus $76,210 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, a difference of $19K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists has the better 10-year outlook at 14.6% projected growth, compared to 3.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists 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 Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists at $97,370/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists earn $97,370 vs. $118,880 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists salary breakdownView →Full Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by take-home payExplore →How to become a forest fire inspectors and prevention specialistsGuide →How to become a police and sheriff's patrol officersGuide →