Side-by-Side Comparison
Fire Investigators leads 4–1| Metric | Fire Investigators | Police Detectives |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 24.4% | 38.1% |
| Risk Tier | Low Risk | Medium Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 18th | 75th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 1 / 14 | 4 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $78,060 | $93,580 |
| Employment | 14K | 111K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Handling and Moving Objects
Performing General Physical Activities
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others
Education and Training
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Developing and Building Teams
Coaching and Developing Others
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Flexibility of Closure
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Fire Investigators
38%
total discount
Police Detectives
38%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Fire Investigators
1 of 14 at risk85%Prepare and maintain reports of investigation results, and records of convicted arsonists and arson suspects.
49%Analyze evidence and other information to determine probable cause of fire or explosion.
49%Photograph damage and evidence related to causes of fires or explosions to document investigation findings.
47%Conduct internal investigation to determine negligence and violation of laws and regulations by fire department employees.
39%Package collected pieces of evidence in securely closed containers, such as bags, crates, or boxes, to protect them.
Police Detectives
4 of 15 at risk87%Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.
85%Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.
83%Provide information to lab personnel concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed.
72%Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
47%Take photographs from all angles of relevant parts of a crime scene, including entrance and exit routes and streets and intersections.
Wage Comparison
Police Detectives earns +$15,520(+20%) vs Fire Investigators
Fire InvestigatorsPolice Detectives
10th
$47,580$54,160
25th
$60,700$68,390
Median
$78,060$93,580
75th
$105,390$120,080
90th
$149,870$159,410
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Fire Investigators2028–2035
Police Detectives2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Fire Investigators has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Police Detectives.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Fire Investigators
$59,052
from $78,060
Police Detectives
$57,954
from $93,580
After adjusting for AI risk, Fire Investigators offers $1,098 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Fire
0
Unique to Police
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Fine Manipulation
Regulatory Barriers
Creativity
Social Intelligence
Fire InvestigatorsPolice Detectives