# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-fire-inspectors-and-prevention-specialists
- SOC code: 33-2022.00
- Career family: Protective service
- Median annual pay: $56,870 (10th percentile $35,420, 90th percentile $105,460)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +13.1%
- Openings a year: 400
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 89 |
| Investigative (I) | 43 |
| Artistic (A) | 2 |
| Social (S) | 36 |
| Enterprising (E) | 40 |
| Conventional (C) | 60 |

## What you'd do

- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 87/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 86/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 86/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 84/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 80/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 80/100)
- Getting Information (importance 79/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 78/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Coordination, Speaking, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Instructing, Learning Strategies, Management of Personnel Resources

## Knowledge

Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Personnel and Human Resources, Public Safety and Security, Law and Government, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Transportation, Administrative

## 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, Fire Range Technician, Fire Ranger

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Fire Protection](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4302) (CIP 4302, 458 colleges)
- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Anna Maria College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/anna-maria-college-82) | Fire Protection | $104,738 | $110,044 | $25,000 |
| [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-illinois-university-carbondale-2495) | Fire Protection | $104,092 | $108,135 | not reported |
| [Waldorf University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/waldorf-university-3151) | Fire Protection | $104,691 | $100,060 | $20,251 |
| [Utah Valley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-valley-university-3103) | Fire Protection | $67,977 | $83,807 | $18,938 |
| [California State University-Bakersfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-bakersfield-364) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | not reported | $82,315 | not reported |
| [Eastern Kentucky University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/eastern-kentucky-university-866) | Fire Protection | $62,905 | $80,497 | $26,769 |
| [University of New Haven](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-new-haven-2981) | Fire Protection | $59,234 | $79,199 | $25,500 |
| [West Virginia University Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/west-virginia-university-main-campus-3219) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $59,962 | $75,022 | $22,313 |

## Related careers

- [First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-firefighting-and-prevention-workers): $93,530 median pay
- [Firefighters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/firefighters): $59,280 median pay
- [Fire Inspectors and Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fire-inspectors-and-investigators): $75,920 median pay
- [Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fire-prevention-and-protection-engineers): $115,160 median pay
- [Forest and Conservation Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-technicians): $54,560 median pay
- [Foresters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/foresters): $76,400 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.