Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary
Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Iowa make a median of $81,860 a year, or about $39.35 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $92,122 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Iowa. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $82K get you in Iowa?
About fire inspectors and investigators
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What this looks like in Iowa
Fire inspectors and investigators pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 20.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level fire inspectors and investigators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track fire inspectors and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fire inspectors and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 20.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fire inspectors and investigators in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fire inspectors and investigators typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,498/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fire inspectors and investigator a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for fire inspectors and investigators?
Iowa pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make in Iowa?
The median is $81,860 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,640, and experienced fire inspectors and investigators can clear $116,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,145/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 20.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a fire inspectors and investigators salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $92,122 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.