Sources: West Virginia Department of Administration, Division of Personnel, West Virginia Division of Personnel — Schedule of Salary Grades 2-26 (effective August 24, 2024) and Class Specifications; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
West Virginia state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective August 24, 2024. These are the ranges West Virginia sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Assistant Fire Marshal in Training Class 8879 · class description Grade 13 | $37,536 – $65,020 a year |
| Assistant Fire Marshal 1 Class 8880 · class description Grade 14 | $39,461 – $68,582 a year |
| Assistant Fire Marshal 2 Class 8881 · class description Grade 15 | $41,194 – $71,789 a year |
| Assistant Fire Marshal 3 Class 8878 · class description Grade 16 | $43,357 – $75,789 a year |
Schedule: Schedule of Salary Grades 2-26 (Division of Personnel). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: West Virginia Department of Administration, Division of Personnel, West Virginia Division of Personnel — Schedule of Salary Grades 2-26 (effective August 24, 2024) and Class Specifications. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in West Virginia, all employers Sourced
Fire Inspectors and Investigators (SOC 33-2021) in West Virginia, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | WV |
|---|---|
| Workers | 70 |
| 10th percentile | $42,310 |
| Median | $52,490 |
| 90th percentile | $66,490 |
| National median, government employers | $76,670 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Employers in West Virginia
40 fire departments in West Virginia, largest Charleston Fire Department, City of Huntington Fire Department, Wheeling Fire Department.
Source: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for West Virginia
Certified Fire Inspector I/IIEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep- ICC Certified Fire Marshal (FM)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- ICC Fire Code Specialist (FCS)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- ICC Fire Inspector I (F1)Practice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- ICC Fire Inspector II (F2)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NFPA Certified Fire Inspector I (CFI-I)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NFPA Certified Fire Inspector IIEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Fire Inspector / Fire Marshal page.