Also called: Arson Investigator, Fire Cause Investigator
Digs through fire scenes to find out how a fire started and whether it was arson.
Fire investigators sift through ash and burn patterns, take samples for lab testing, interview witnesses, and sometimes work with arson-sniffing dogs. If it was arson, they build a criminal case. Insurance companies hire private fire investigators too.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 4 years after high school. Fire or police experience plus certifications (IAAI-CFI, NFPA 1033).
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training, 2-year college. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Fire Science, Chemistry, Criminal Justice.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS fire inspectors and investigators (approx.).
Low risk for 10 years. Lab tests and modeling help; digging through scenes, interviews and court testimony stay human.
Classes: Chemistry, Physics, English composition, Psychology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 33-2021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.