Prevailing Wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Prevailing wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators under SOC 33-2021 is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment Statistics surveys. Whether your title is Fire Inspector, Arson Investigator, or Fire Code Inspector, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level fire inspectors with limited field experience, typically recent graduates or those new to code enforcement work. DOL defines Level 1 as roles requiring close supervision, routine inspections, and minimal independent judgment on complex hazard assessments.
Qualified fire inspectors with working knowledge of fire codes and some independent caseload responsibility. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Fire Inspectors and Investigators, reflecting mid-career professionals who handle standard inspections with moderate oversight.
Experienced fire investigators or senior inspectors who manage complex cases, lead multi-agency investigations, or train junior staff. DOL's Level 3 reflects professionals who apply specialized technical judgment with minimal supervision across a broad range of fire and explosion scenarios.
Fully competent fire officials, lead investigators, or program supervisors with demonstrated expertise across fire cause determination, code enforcement, and organizational leadership. Level 4 roles typically involve policy development, program oversight, or direction of other inspectors and investigators.
Prevailing Wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Fire Inspectors and Investigators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your title maps to SOC 33-2021
Titles like Fire Marshal, Safety Officer, or Loss Control Specialist are sometimes used interchangeably with Fire Inspector but may be filed under different SOC codes, missing the 33-2021 wage floor entirely. Verify the SOC on the LCA before signing an offer.
Watch how Miami and San Francisco shift your floor
The prevailing wage floor for fire inspection roles in Miami and San Francisco runs substantially above the national median at every level. If your offer is benchmarked to a national average rather than your worksite metro, it may fall short of the local DOL floor.
Factor out signing bonuses from base wage compliance
DOL prevailing wage compliance for sponsored fire inspection roles is measured against base salary only. One-time signing bonuses, relocation allowances, and irregular stipends do not count toward meeting the wage floor on your LCA.
Find employers who have sponsored fire inspection roles
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historical H-1B or green card sponsorship records for fire inspection and investigation roles, so you can target agencies and firms that have successfully filed for this occupation before.
Jobs for Fire Inspectors and Investigators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 33-2021.00 alongside Fire Inspectors and Investigators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Arson Investigator Prevailing Wage
Arson Investigator Prevailing Wage
Arson Investigator positions fall under SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Fire Code Inspector Prevailing Wage
Fire Code Inspector Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fire Code Inspector for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fire Inspector Prevailing Wage
Fire Inspector Prevailing Wage
Fire Inspector is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Fire Investigator Prevailing Wage
Fire Investigator Prevailing Wage
Fire Investigator positions fall under SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Fire Official Prevailing Wage
Fire Official Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fire Official for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fire Prevention Inspector Prevailing Wage
Fire Prevention Inspector Prevailing Wage
Fire Prevention Inspector is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Fire Prevention Specialist Prevailing Wage
Fire Prevention Specialist Prevailing Wage
Fire Prevention Specialist positions fall under SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Fire Protection Specialist Prevailing Wage
Fire Protection Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fire Protection Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fire Safety Inspector Prevailing Wage
Fire Safety Inspector Prevailing Wage
Fire Safety Inspector is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Fire Safety Specialist Prevailing Wage
Fire Safety Specialist Prevailing Wage
Fire Safety Specialist positions fall under SOC 33-2021.00 (Fire Inspectors and Investigators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Fire Inspectors and Investigators?
DOL uses Occupational Employment Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to set prevailing wages for each occupation by metropolitan area. For SOC 33-2021, OFLC publishes four wage levels reflecting the distribution of wages actually paid to fire inspectors and investigators in each region. Employers sponsoring a worker must meet the floor for the worksite location and the applicable experience level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 applies to entry-level roles under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified professionals with independent caseload responsibility, and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced investigators or senior inspectors. Level 4 covers lead roles with program or supervisory scope. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision described in the job and on the LCA.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same fire inspector role vary so much by city?
DOL sets wages using regional OES surveys, so the prevailing wage reflects what employers in each metropolitan area actually pay for the occupation. A fire inspector role in Miami or San Francisco sits in a higher-cost, higher-wage labor market than one in Oklahoma City or San Juan. The LCA must list the actual worksite city, not the employer's headquarters, so the applicable wage floor is the one for where the work is performed.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage?
USCIS and DOL require that the wage offered on the LCA meet or exceed the prevailing wage for the role, level, and worksite. If the offer falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and without a certified LCA the H-1B or PERM petition cannot proceed. Employers who underpay after a petition is approved can face back-pay liability and debarment from future sponsorship filings.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 33-2021 at any metropolitan area. Select the occupation code, choose your metro, and review all four levels. For broader occupational wage context, O*NET and the Bureau of Labor Statistics publish supporting data. Migrate Mate filters sponsored job listings by role and location, letting you see which employers are actively hiring fire inspectors and investigators in a given market.
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