Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,240 or more. The middle half of fire inspectors and investigators in Durham earn between $59,890 and $86,910.
- $43K10th
- $60K25th
- $75KMedian
- $87K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,220 | $6,018 | $34.72 |
| Median | $75,470 | $6,289 | $36.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,890 | $4,991 | $28.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $86,910 | $7,242 | $41.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Fire inspectors and investigators in Durham earn 10% more than the North Carolina average ($65,570) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($78,670). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $75,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $72,220 | $75,470 | $42,930 | $96,240 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $65,570 | $66,820 | $39,260 | $90,890 | 870 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $72,220, a single filer in Durham takes home about $57,264 a year, or $4,772 a month and $2,202 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for fire inspectors and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $72,220 buys what about $74,017 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 6 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($76,400).
- Raleigh$76,400
- Durham$72,220
- Greensboro$71,270
- Charlotte$68,240
- Winston-Salem$63,310
- Wilmington$50,730
All Fire Inspectors and Investigators salaries in North Carolina
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 Durham: questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make an hour in Durham?
$34.72 an hour on average, and $36.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fire inspectors and investigators salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fire inspectors and investigators take-home pay in Durham?
About $57,264 a year ($4,772 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,220.
Do fire inspectors and investigators earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.23, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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