Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists Salary
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in Colorado make a median of $50,170 a year, or about $24.12 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $48,375 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 54.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $50K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
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What this looks like in Colorado
Pay for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists in Colorado runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $57K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,832/month, which is 54.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) 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 forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists salary by metro in Colorado
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $50K | +0% | N/A |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $42K | -16% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a forest fire inspectors and prevention specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 54.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,838/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Colorado?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $50K here vs. $57K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists?
Colorado pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists make in Colorado?
The median is $50,170 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,160, and experienced forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists can clear $81,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,345/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 54.8% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists salary is worth about $48,375 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.