Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists Salary
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in Alabama make a median of $37,430 a year, or about $18 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $42,361 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 42.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Alabama. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $37K get you in Alabama?
About forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists in Alabama runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $57K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,085/month, which is 42.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a forest fire inspectors and prevention specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 42.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,083/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is forest fire inspectors and prevention specialist a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $37K here vs. $57K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists?
Alabama pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists make in Alabama?
The median is $37,430 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,720, and experienced forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists can clear $51,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,534/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 42.8% 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 forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (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 forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists salary is worth about $42,361 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists 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.