Fire Inspectors and Investigators Salary
Fire Inspectors and Investigators in Ohio make a median of $59,280 a year, or about $28.5 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $64,822 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 30.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Ohio?
About fire inspectors and investigators
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for fire inspectors and investigators in Ohio runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level fire inspectors and investigators (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $88K spread from bottom to top.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary by metro in Ohio
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $86K | +46% | 40 |
| Toledo | $67K | +12% | 40 |
| Columbus | $63K | +7% | 150 |
| Cleveland | $58K | -3% | 80 |
| Akron | $54K | -8% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track fire inspectors and investigators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fire inspectors and investigator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for fire inspectors and investigators in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fire inspectors and investigators typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,555/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $59K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for fire inspectors and investigators?
Ohio pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make in Ohio?
The median is $59,280 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,580, and experienced fire inspectors and investigators can clear $130,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 29.2% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $64,822 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.