Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,420 or more. The middle half of fire inspectors and investigators in Chicago earn between $59,490 and $88,790.
- $38K10th
- $59K25th
- $62KMedian
- $89K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,460 | $6,205 | $35.80 |
| Median | $62,400 | $5,200 | $30.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,490 | $4,958 | $28.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,790 | $7,399 | $42.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Fire inspectors and investigators in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($73,330) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($78,670). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $75,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $74,460 | $62,400 | $37,840 | $128,420 | 350 |
| Illinois | $73,330 | $62,400 | $35,070 | $125,530 | 440 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $74,460, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $57,668 a year, or $4,806 a month and $2,218 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $59,009 | $4,917 |
| Working in IL | $57,668 | $4,806 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for fire inspectors and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $74,460 buys what about $71,876 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in nearby metro areas
- Indianapolis, IN$72,260
- Toledo, OH$78,410
- Dayton, OH$93,940
- Detroit, MI$85,730
- St. Louis, MO$80,620
- Louisville, KY$58,730
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make an hour in Chicago?
$35.80 an hour on average, and $30.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fire inspectors and investigators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fire inspectors and investigators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $57,668 a year ($4,806 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,460.
Do fire inspectors and investigators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.