Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC make a median of $71,790 a year, or about $34.51 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $73,578 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month — about 35.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $72K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About fire inspectors and investigators
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level fire inspectors and investigators (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $117K | +50% | 330 |
| Oregon | $115K | +48% | 180 |
| California | $96K | +23% | 1,260 |
| Nevada | $96K | +23% | 190 |
| Maryland | $91K | +16% | 270 |
| Michigan | $87K | +11% | 210 |
| Massachusetts | $85K | +8% | 110 |
| Texas | $83K | +7% | 980 |
| Missouri | $83K | +6% | 130 |
| Minnesota | $81K | +4% | 160 |
| Wyoming | $77K | -1% | 30 |
| New Hampshire | $77K | -1% | 70 |
| Connecticut | $77K | -2% | 430 |
| North Dakota | $76K | -3% | 30 |
| Iowa | $75K | -3% | 40 |
| New York | $75K | -4% | 1,200 |
| Arizona | $75K | -4% | 210 |
| Rhode Island | $74K | -5% | N/A |
| Utah | $73K | -7% | 60 |
| Illinois | $72K | -7% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $71K | -9% | 70 |
| Vermont | $71K | -9% | 40 |
| Nebraska | $70K | -10% | 60 |
| Idaho | $70K | -10% | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $70K | -10% | 180 |
| Virginia | $69K | -11% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $69K | -11% | 900 |
| North Carolina | $69K | -12% | 750 |
| Pennsylvania | $67K | -14% | 310 |
| Indiana | $66K | -15% | 200 |
| Tennessee | $66K | -16% | 540 |
| New Mexico | $65K | -16% | 80 |
| Ohio | $65K | -17% | 510 |
| Georgia | $64K | -17% | 270 |
| South Carolina | $62K | -21% | 160 |
| Kansas | $60K | -23% | 90 |
| Arkansas | $58K | -26% | 40 |
| Delaware | $58K | -26% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $55K | -30% | 120 |
| West Virginia | $53K | -32% | 60 |
| Alabama | $51K | -35% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $51K | -35% | 100 |
| Maine | $46K | -41% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -52% | 170 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track fire inspectors and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $71,790 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,030, and experienced fire inspectors and investigators can clear $97,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,638/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 36.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a fire inspectors and investigators salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fire inspectors and investigators salary is worth about $73,578 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fire inspectors and investigators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.