Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary
Fire Inspectors and Investigators in New Jersey make a median of $60,100 a year, or about $28.9 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $60,499 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 52.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in New Jersey?
About fire inspectors and investigators
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Pay for fire inspectors and investigators in New Jersey runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $76K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 51.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for fire inspectors and investigatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level fire inspectors and investigators (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary by metro in New Jersey
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $72K | +20% | 70 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $56K | -7% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track fire inspectors and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fire inspectors and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 51.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fire inspectors and investigators in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fire inspectors and investigators typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,633/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 79% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $60K here vs. $76K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for fire inspectors and investigators?
New Jersey pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make in New Jersey?
The median is $60,100 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,880, and experienced fire inspectors and investigators can clear $104,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,042/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 51.1% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $60,499 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.