Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,260 or more. The middle half of fire inspectors and investigators in Memphis earn between $54,900 and $82,340.
- $45K10th
- $55K25th
- $82KMedian
- $82K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,250 | $5,854 | $33.77 |
| Median | $82,280 | $6,857 | $39.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,900 | $4,575 | $26.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,340 | $6,862 | $39.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Fire inspectors and investigators in Memphis earn 7% more than the Tennessee average ($65,800) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($78,670). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $75,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $70,250 | $82,280 | $45,100 | $90,260 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $65,800 | $63,400 | $47,150 | $87,560 | 390 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $70,250, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $58,251 a year, or $4,854 a month and $2,240 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $58,251 | $4,854 |
| Working in MS | $56,173 | $4,681 |
| Working in AR | $56,139 | $4,678 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for fire inspectors and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $70,250 buys what about $76,210 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd of 2 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($70,490).
- Nashville$70,490
- Memphis$70,250
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 Memphis: questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make an hour in Memphis?
$33.77 an hour on average, and $39.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fire inspectors and investigators salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fire inspectors and investigators take-home pay in Memphis?
About $58,251 a year ($4,854 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,250. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do fire inspectors and investigators earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.46, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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