Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary
Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Memphis, TN-MS-AR make a median of $82,280 a year, or about $39.56 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $89,260 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 23.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $82K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). 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
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What this looks like in Memphis
Fire inspectors and investigators pay in Memphis 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 $1,274/month, 23.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for fire inspectors and investigators in metros near Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $77K | $80K |
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $62K | $69K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $77K | $79K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $71K | $71K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level fire inspectors and investigators (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $123K | +62% | 380 |
| Oregon | $115K | +52% | N/A |
| California | $99K | +31% | 1,350 |
| Maryland | $99K | +30% | 270 |
| Nevada | $93K | +23% | 190 |
| Colorado | $86K | +13% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $84K | +11% | 230 |
| Texas | $82K | +9% | 1,030 |
| Iowa | $82K | +8% | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $81K | +7% | 200 |
| Connecticut | $80K | +6% | 420 |
| North Dakota | $80K | +6% | 40 |
| Alabama | $78K | +3% | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $78K | +3% | 50 |
| Michigan | $77K | +2% | 250 |
| Missouri | $77K | +2% | 110 |
| Nebraska | $77K | +1% | 60 |
| Florida | $76K | -0% | 1,060 |
| New Hampshire | $75K | -1% | 50 |
| Arizona | $75K | -2% | 240 |
| New York | $74K | -3% | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $73K | -3% | 200 |
| Idaho | $73K | -4% | 30 |
| Utah | $73K | -4% | 60 |
| Virginia | $70K | -7% | 100 |
| North Carolina | $67K | -12% | 870 |
| Wisconsin | $67K | -12% | 160 |
| Louisiana | $65K | -15% | 80 |
| New Mexico | $65K | -15% | 160 |
| Georgia | $65K | -15% | 300 |
| Kansas | $64K | -15% | 90 |
| Tennessee | $63K | -16% | 390 |
| Illinois | $62K | -18% | 440 |
| South Carolina | $62K | -18% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $60K | -21% | 1,290 |
| Ohio | $59K | -22% | 520 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | -22% | 280 |
| Maine | $58K | -23% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $58K | -24% | 40 |
| Kentucky | $56K | -26% | 100 |
| Mississippi | $55K | -27% | 140 |
| West Virginia | $52K | -31% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -51% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states with published data
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 Memphis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fire inspectors and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 23.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,274/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fire inspectors and investigators in Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fire inspectors and investigators typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,706/month. At HUD’s $1,274/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Memphis?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for fire inspectors and investigators?
Memphis pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $82,280 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,100, and experienced fire inspectors and investigators can clear $90,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,523/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 23.1% 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 Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (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 $89,260 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.