Arson Investigator job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

O*NET occupation

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

O*NET-SOC 33-2021.00

Preparation

Job Zone 3 of 5

medium preparation

Typical entry education

Postsecondary nondegree award

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$75,920

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Fire Inspectors and Investigators (O*NET-SOC 33-2021.00). O*NET 31.0 lists “Arson Investigator” as a job title for this occupation only (evidence: O*NET's Sample of Reported Titles (titles job holders report), O*NET job-incumbent data and the SOC Index). Figures on this page are for that occupation. TryHired has no separate career page for this title yet.

1. Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects. importance 4.9 of 5
2. Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms. importance 4.8 of 5
3. Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them. importance 4.8 of 5
4. Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems. importance 4.7 of 5
5. Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion. importance 4.6 of 5
6. Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings. importance 4.6 of 5
7. Inspect buildings to locate hazardous conditions and fire code violations, such as accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits. importance 4.6 of 5
8. Examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire. importance 4.6 of 5
9. Instruct children about the dangers of fire. importance 4.5 of 5
10. Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found. importance 4.5 of 5
11. Inspect properties that store, handle, and use hazardous materials to ensure compliance with laws, codes, and regulations, and issue hazardous materials permits to facilities found in compliance. importance 4.4 of 5
12. Write detailed reports of fire inspections performed, fire code violations observed, and corrective recommendations offered. importance 4.4 of 5
13. Develop or review fire exit plans. importance 4.3 of 5
14. Inspect and test fire protection or fire detection systems to verify that such systems are installed in accordance with appropriate laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, and standards. importance 4.3 of 5
15. Coordinate efforts with other organizations, such as law enforcement agencies. importance 4.3 of 5
16. Attend training classes to maintain current knowledge of fire prevention, safety, and firefighting procedures. importance 4.3 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards, Performing for or Working Directly with the Public, Documenting/Recording Information, Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge and Communicating with People Outside the Organization.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Subpoena and interview witnesses, property owners, and building occupants to obtain information and sworn testimony.
• Conduct internal investigation to determine negligence and violation of laws and regulations by fire department employees.
• Test sites and materials to establish facts, such as burn patterns and flash points of materials, using test equipment.
• Dust evidence or portions of fire scenes for latent fingerprints.
• Arrange for the replacement of defective fire fighting equipment and for repair of fire alarm and sprinkler systems, making minor repairs such as servicing fire extinguishers when feasible.
• Issue permits for public assemblies.

Knowledge areas: Public Safety and Security, Customer and Personal Service, Building and Construction, Law and Government and Education and Training.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation as typical.
• Training on the job: BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 3 of 5 (medium preparation). Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board.

The most common answer among arson investigators surveyed by O*NET is a post-secondary certificate (27%).

Job title: Arson Investigator
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring an Arson Investigator to inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
- Testify in court cases involving fires, suspected arson, and false alarms.
- Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
- Conduct inspections and acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
- Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
- Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
- Inspect buildings to locate hazardous conditions and fire code violations, such as accumulations of combustible material, electrical wiring problems, and inadequate or non-functional fire exits.
- Examine fire sites and collect evidence such as glass, metal fragments, charred wood, and accelerant residue for use in determining the cause of a fire.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists 5 years or more in a related occupation as typical; adjust to this role]
- Strength in active listening, writing and speaking
- Working knowledge of Public Safety and Security and Customer and Personal Service
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

For Fire Inspectors and Investigators, the median annual wage was $75,920 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $36.50. BLS estimates about 13,800 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Fire Inspectors and Investigators to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,600 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

• Read a real arson investigator posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only arson investigator work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (active listening and writing): a real situation, what you did and what changed.