Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $151,140 or more. The middle half of fire inspectors and investigators in Seattle earn between $96,550 and $130,740.
- $79K10th
- $97K25th
- $128KMedian
- $131K75th
- $151K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $117,420 | $9,785 | $56.45 |
| Median | $127,920 | $10,660 | $61.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $96,550 | $8,046 | $46.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,740 | $10,895 | $62.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Fire inspectors and investigators in Seattle earn about the same as the Washington average ($114,250) and 49% more than the U.S. average ($78,670). At the median the gap is +68% against the U.S. median of $75,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $117,420 | $127,920 | $79,180 | $151,140 | 210 |
| Washington | $114,250 | $122,900 | $77,810 | $145,760 | 380 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $117,420, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $91,435 a year, or $7,620 a month and $3,517 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for fire inspectors and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $117,420 buys what about $105,657 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in nearby metro areas
- Portland, OR$110,110
- Reno, NV$91,030
- Sacramento, CA$104,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$97,510
- Salt Lake City, UT$75,270
- San Francisco, CA$124,850
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 Seattle: questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make an hour in Seattle?
$56.45 an hour on average, and $61.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fire inspectors and investigators salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $96,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fire inspectors and investigators take-home pay in Seattle?
About $91,435 a year ($7,620 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $117,420. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do fire inspectors and investigators earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 49% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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