Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,290 or more. The middle half of fire inspectors and investigators in Charleston earn between $45,270 and $51,910.
- $39K10th
- $45K25th
- $49KMedian
- $52K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,120 | $4,177 | $24.10 |
| Median | $49,100 | $4,092 | $23.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,270 | $3,772 | $21.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $51,910 | $4,326 | $24.96 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Fire inspectors and investigators in Charleston earn 12% less than the West Virginia average ($56,720) and 36% less than the U.S. average ($78,670). At the median the gap is -35% against the U.S. median of $75,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $50,120 | $49,100 | $39,410 | $57,290 | 30 |
| West Virginia | $56,720 | $52,490 | $42,310 | $66,490 | 70 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $50,120, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $41,002 a year, or $3,417 a month and $1,577 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for fire inspectors and investigators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $50,120 buys what about $56,494 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators salary in nearby metro areas
- Columbus, OH$75,170
- Winston-Salem, NC$63,310
- Pittsburgh, PA$47,310
- Dayton, OH$93,940
- Greensboro, NC$71,270
- Akron, OH$67,510
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 Charleston: questions
How much do fire inspectors and investigators make an hour in Charleston?
$24.09 an hour on average, and $23.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fire inspectors and investigators salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fire inspectors and investigators take-home pay in Charleston?
About $41,002 a year ($3,417 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,120.
Do fire inspectors and investigators earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 3.59, this job is 3.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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