Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $164,290 or more. The middle half of fire inspectors and investigators in San Francisco earn between $102,060 and $164,290.
- $61K10th
- $102K25th
- $129KMedian
- $164K75th
- $164K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,850 | $10,404 | $60.02 |
| Median | $129,410 | $10,784 | $62.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,060 | $8,505 | $49.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,290 | $13,691 | $78.99 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Fire inspectors and investigators in San Francisco earn 22% more than the California average ($102,500) and 59% more than the U.S. average ($78,670). At the median the gap is +70% against the U.S. median of $75,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $124,850 | $129,410 | $61,190 | $164,290 | 270 |
| California | $102,500 | $99,230 | $60,080 | $150,590 | 1,350 |
| United States | $78,670 | $75,920 | $46,530 | $118,750 | 13,800 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $124,850, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $89,082 a year, or $7,423 a month and $3,426 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for fire inspectors and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $124,850 buys what about $107,990 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 10 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($153,240).
- San Jose$153,240
- San Francisco$124,850
- Sacramento$104,980
- Santa Rosa$97,510
- Riverside$96,440
- Santa Maria$94,650
- San Diego$94,490
- Los Angeles$93,350
- Fresno$89,780
- Oxnard$87,910
All Fire Inspectors and Investigators salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for fire inspectors and investigators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($153,240).
- San Jose, CA$153,240
- San Francisco, CA$124,850
- Seattle, WA$117,420
- Portland, OR$110,110
- Sacramento, CA$104,980
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Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make an hour in San Francisco?
$60.03 an hour on average, and $62.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fire inspectors and investigators salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fire inspectors and investigators take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $89,082 a year ($7,423 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,850. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do fire inspectors and investigators earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 59% more than the U.S. average for this job ($78,670).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2021; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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