← All careers

Law & Government

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

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

Median salary (BLS)

$56,870

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$35k – $105k

Job outlook

+15% (much faster than average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $105,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$8,200–$27,000

Time to qualify

2.5 yr

Renewal

—

  1. 1

    Associate degree (community college)

    Degree

    Two years at in-district rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $4,050/yr, plus ~$1,200/yr books & supplies.

    $8,000–$22,000 · 2 years source

  2. 2

    Bar exam / state licensure / academy

    License

    Lawyers: the state bar exam. Public-safety roles: a training academy plus state certification.

    $200–$5,000 · 6 months · varies by state source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

    Entry / Junior

    $35,420

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

    Established

    $56,870

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

    Senior

    $81,165

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Law & Government

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.