Fire inspectors search buildings for fire hazards, review blueprints with developers, check that buildings and designs comply with fire codes, run fire safety education and review evacuation plans. Fire investigators collect and analyze evidence from fires and explosions and testify in court. Forest fire inspectors patrol for wildfire risk and help fight fires. Most of that work happens on site.
The short answer: low exposure, with growth projected. The ILO's 2025 index rates the closest groups at minimal exposure, 0.36 for government regulatory associate professionals not elsewhere classified, and not exposed, 0.26 for physical and engineering science technicians not elsewhere classified. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 1,900 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed fire inspectors are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Government Regulatory Associate Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified | Minimal exposure | 0.36 |
| Physical and Engineering Science Technicians Not Elsewhere Classified | Not exposed | 0.26 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups for fire inspectors, not a score for the job title itself.
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Fire inspectors | Grow 6% | About 1,900 |
The BLS says fire inspectors will be needed to assess fire hazards in newly constructed buildings and to make sure existing buildings meet updated federal, state and local fire codes. Although the number of structural fires has been falling for some time, it says investigators will still be needed to find the cause of fires and explosions, and forest fire inspectors will be needed to help prevent and control increasingly destructive wildfires.
Where AI is helping
- Drafting inspection reports and summaries from notes.
- Looking up fire code sections, with the official code checked.
- Preparing fire safety education materials.
What stays with fire inspectors
- Site inspections: searching buildings for hazards in person.
- Code judgment: deciding whether a building or design complies.
- Investigations: collecting evidence at fire scenes and testifying in court.
- Checking AI help: generated code references and reports can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
New construction, updated fire codes and wildfire risk all support demand, according to the BLS. The legal weight of an inspection or an investigation stays with a person. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace firefighters?, will AI replace building inspectors? and will AI replace forensic science technicians?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for fire inspectors and investigators at $73,680 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The BLS says the education needed to enter varies; its profile explains the routes in. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace fire inspectors?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,900 openings a year.
How exposed are fire inspectors to AI?
The closest ILO groups score 0.36 (minimal exposure) and 0.26 (not exposed).
What drives demand?
The BLS points to new buildings, updated fire codes, the need to investigate fires and explosions, and wildfire prevention.
What do fire inspectors do?
They search buildings for hazards, review blueprints, check fire code compliance and run fire safety education.