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Arson investigators are highly trained professionals who determine fault for fires in cases where arson is detected. After fire investigators inspect the scene of a fire and determine that arson is the culprit, arson investigators are brought in to collect evidence and conduct an investigation that may lead to arrest and prosecution. Arson investigators need an in-depth understanding of fire science, as well as a working knowledge of law enforcement procedures, to perform their complex job responsibilities.

While arson investigators are sometimes confused with fire investigators, the two are separate professions. Fire investigators tend to be more highly trained in scene investigation and fire science, while arson investigators may have a stronger law enforcement background. Arson investigators can gain special certification in fire inspecting, and conversely, many fire inspectors are also trained in arson investigation.

Arson investigator salaries

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track salary information for arson investigators specifically, but does offer statistics for fire investigators, which can be used as a baseline for salary information. According to the BLS, $56,160 was the mean annual salary for fire investigators in 2010, with the top 10 percent earning $85,260 annually. Salary.com reports a similar median salary for fire inspectors at $52,612, with $71,132 as the annual salary for the top 10 percent of inspectors.

Of course, location can play an important role in determining salary. The BLS reports that the highest numbers of fire investigators are employed in California, New Jersey, Florida, Texas and New York. The following states paid the highest mean annual wages for fire investigators in 2010, according to BLS data:

• Nevada: $76,930
• Washington: $75,680
• Oregon: $73,090
• Minnesota: $65,190
• Iowa: $64,790

Of these five states, Iowa ranks best for overall cost of living, as determined by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). Nevada, Oregon and Minnesota all fall within reasonable cost of living ratios, as well.

In terms of metropolitan areas with high mean annual wages and low cost of living, these cities scored best all around:

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash.: $80,090
• Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev.: $77,200
• Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla.: $74,580
• West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.: $73,550

How to become an arson investigator

Arson investigators are highly trained in fire science, and usually have a background in law enforcement or fire fighting. Training as a fire fighter or police officer can also offer invaluable experience. Additionally, many arson investigators hold bachelor's degrees in an area like fire science or criminal justice. Such programs are available at many colleges and universities, both online and on-campus. Also, organizations like the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) offer certification courses for professionals who wish to gain formal training in areas like evidence collecting and fire inspection.

Job outlook for arson investigators

The BLS reports that job growth for fire investigators should be as fast as the average for all occupations in the 2008 to 2018 decade, and arson investigator job outlook should be very similar to that of fire investigators. The BLS does state that job opportunities will be best for those with some formal training or relevant job experience.

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