What is the job outlook for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists?

Employment of Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists is projected to change by +13.1% over 2025–35 (BLS), with about 400 openings per year. The Shigoto Zukan outlook score is 79/100.

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Q: How much does a Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists make?

The median annual wage for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists is $56,870 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35). The lowest 10 percent earn about $35,420 and the highest 10 percent about $105,460.

Q: What will a Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists earn in 10 years?

The Shigoto Zukan model projects $80,200 in 10 years ($69,000–$93,100) and $67,500 in 5 years.

Q: Will AI replace Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists?

The AI replacement risk for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists is 18% (Very low), estimated by comparing the tasks that AI and software can take over with the tasks that are hard to automate.

United States SOC 33-2022.00 Protective Services Confidence ★★★★★

Also called: District Ranger, Environmental Protection Fire Control Officer, Fire Management Officer, Fire Management Technician, Fire Observer, Fire Operations Forester, Fire Prevention Officer, Fire Prevention Technician

Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures.

Median annual pay

$56,870

25th–75th pct. $43,760–$81,500

Top pay (est.)

$137,100

Top 10% $105,460

Pay in 5 years

$67,500est.

2031

Pay in 10 years

$80,200est.

$69,000–$93,100

Outlook score

79/100

★★★★☆ Good

AI replacement risk

18%

Very low

Job growth (10 yr)

+13.1%

400 openings / yr

What forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists do

Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.

Typical tasks

Relay messages about emergencies, accidents, locations of crew and personnel, and fire hazard conditions.
Conduct wildland firefighting training.
Estimate sizes and characteristics of fires, and report findings to base camps by radio or telephone.
Direct crews working on firelines during forest fires.
Locate forest fires on area maps, using azimuth sighters and known landmarks.
Extinguish smaller fires with portable extinguishers, shovels, and axes.
Patrol assigned areas, looking for forest fires, hazardous conditions, and weather phenomena.
Compile and report meteorological data, such as temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and velocity, and types of cloud formations.
Examine and inventory firefighting equipment, such as axes, fire hoses, shovels, pumps, buckets, and fire extinguishers, to determine amount and condition.
Educate the public about fire safety and prevention.
Direct maintenance and repair of firefighting equipment, or requisition new equipment.
Maintain records and logbooks.

Typical path into the job (BLS)

Education High school diploma or equivalentRelated experience Less than 5 yearsOn-the-job training Moderate-term on-the-job trainingO*NET Job Zone 3

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists salary

The median annual wage for forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists is $56,870 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $35,420 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $105,460. The mean annual wage is $66,640.

Median

$56,870

Mean

$66,640

10th percentile

$35,420

Entry level

25th percentile

$43,760

75th percentile

$81,500

90th percentile

$105,460

Top earners

Mean hourly wage

$32.00

4.4× the federal minimum ($7.25)

In Japanese yen

¥8.94M

≈ at 157.25 JPY/USD

The mean hourly wage of $32.00 is 4.4× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →

How does your pay compare with people your age?

Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).

Pay by percentile

Entry level (10th pct.)

$35,420

Early career (25th pct.)

$43,760

Mid career (median)

$56,870

Experienced (75th pct.)

$81,500

Top earners (90th pct.)

$105,460

Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.

How median, percentiles and the pay range are defined →

Projected pay for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.

Today $56,870 → in 3 years $63,100 → in 5 years $67,500 → in 10 years $80,200 (10-year range $69,000–$93,100). The model assumes pay growth of +3.5% per year.

$56,870

Now
2026

$63,100

In 3 yrs
2029

$58,200–$68,600

$67,500

In 5 yrs
2031

$60,900–$75,200

$80,200

In 10 yrs
2036

$69,000–$93,100

What drives the annual growth rate

Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand +0.45%AI impact +0.24%Total +3.5% / yr

Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →

Outlook score for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

79/100

★★★★☆

Good · ranked #7 of all U.S. occupations

Pay level

43 pts

AI resistance

82 pts

Entry barrier

75 pts

Annual openings

84 pts

Projected growth

97 pts

Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.

Will AI replace Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists? AI replacement risk

18%

Very low

Ranked #111 safest from AI among all U.S. occupations

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

How AI is changing this job

A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.

AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →

Labor demand for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Employment

2,780

BLS OEWS

Projected employment

3,400

2025–35

Projected change

+13.1%

ranked #29 for growth

Annual openings

400

growth + replacement needs

Demand score

High

74/100

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

Work experience

Less than 5 years

in a related occupation

On-the-job training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.

Skills, education and requirements for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Key skills

Critical Thinking

3.9

Coordination

3.8

Reading Comprehension

3.4

Time Management

3.4

Monitoring

3.4

Management of Personnel Resources

3.4

Speaking

3.4

Complex Problem Solving

3.2

O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).

Key knowledge areas

Customer and Personal Service

5.2

Public Safety and Security

4.9

Education and Training

4.9

Administrative

4.4

Administration and Management

4.2

Computers and Electronics

4.2

Personnel and Human Resources

4.2

Mechanical

4.0

What the work involves

Performing General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsPerforming for or Working Directly with the Public

Important abilities

Problem SensitivityOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionFlexibility of ClosureFar VisionNear Vision

Education of workers

High school diploma

32%

Bachelor's degree

24%

Associate's degree

18%

Some college

18%

Post-secondary certificate

Training before entry

1–2 years

28%

2–4 years

21%

6–12 months

14%

3–6 months

13%

Up to 1 month

None / short demo

4–10 years

Over 10 years

1–3 months

Related work experience

2–4 years

46%

8–10 years

17%

4–6 years

16%

1–2 years

15%

6–8 years

Job Zone 3 — medium preparation needed (O*NET)

Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)

How to become forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

Typical education

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS

Related experience

Less than 5 years

On-the-job training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.

Career path and how to earn more as forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.

Related occupations

	Occupation	Pay	Outlook	AI risk
1	Security Guards Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules.	$38,020	41/100	39%
2	Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances.	$76,210	58/100	20%
3	Correctional Officers and Jailers Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures.	$58,940	36/100	24%
4	Firefighters Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk.	$59,280	58/100	8%
5	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.	$33,580	64/100	8%
6	First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.	$106,040	61/100	15%

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data

Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.