Construction and building inspectors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,140 | $22.66 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $74,690 | $35.91 |
| Mean (average) | $77,730 | $37.37 |
| 90th percentile | $114,200 | $54.91 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Construction and building inspectors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,300 | $46,010 | $85,770 | 1,420 | 0.71 |
| Alaska | $102,410 | $73,550 | $124,840 | 270 | 0.89 |
| Arizona | $73,440 | $55,310 | $105,980 | 3,330 | 1.09 |
| Arkansas | $52,700 | $39,450 | $81,340 | 800 | 0.65 |
| California | $101,290 | $56,220 | $161,550 | 13,420 | 0.78 |
| Colorado | $79,950 | $54,290 | $121,740 | 3,700 | 1.36 |
| Connecticut | $98,670 | $65,140 | $129,830 | 1,430 | 0.9 |
| Delaware | $72,700 | $52,350 | $95,690 | 570 | 1.25 |
| District of Columbia | $86,200 | $68,120 | $131,810 | 370 | 0.56 |
| Florida | $68,170 | $45,460 | $100,280 | 13,860 | 1.48 |
| Georgia | $65,980 | $46,070 | $100,450 | 4,510 | 0.98 |
| Guam | $51,710 | $38,820 | $81,100 | 40 | 0.6 |
| Hawaii | $79,320 | $53,590 | $99,600 | 710 | 1.19 |
| Idaho | $63,570 | $48,840 | $102,000 | 1,000 | 1.23 |
| Illinois | $78,340 | $47,600 | $119,650 | 2,560 | 0.44 |
| Indiana | $62,850 | $44,540 | $94,350 | 2,110 | 0.7 |
| Iowa | $71,630 | $47,470 | $90,380 | 1,140 | 0.77 |
| Kansas | $63,150 | $48,170 | $91,420 | 840 | 0.62 |
| Kentucky | $60,200 | $37,140 | $97,670 | 1,380 | 0.73 |
| Louisiana | $68,260 | $47,450 | $95,400 | 1,440 | 0.79 |
| Maine | $74,670 | $48,340 | $102,500 | 710 | 1.17 |
| Maryland | $76,640 | $53,610 | $110,250 | 2,780 | 1.07 |
| Massachusetts | $83,200 | $50,330 | $123,400 | 4,290 | 1.25 |
| Michigan | $71,040 | $47,100 | $95,980 | 3,090 | 0.74 |
| Minnesota | $88,670 | $61,610 | $112,420 | 1,390 | 0.5 |
| Mississippi | $50,250 | $35,600 | $76,400 | 800 | 0.72 |
| Missouri | $62,970 | $46,980 | $87,690 | 1,640 | 0.59 |
| Montana | $75,700 | $49,840 | $100,850 | 290 | 0.6 |
| Nebraska | $65,000 | $45,910 | $90,880 | 570 | 0.59 |
| Nevada | $75,290 | $55,510 | $105,490 | 1,780 | 1.22 |
| New Hampshire | $65,640 | $45,070 | $88,610 | 420 | 0.65 |
| New Jersey | $81,760 | $48,880 | $126,400 | 5,950 | 1.47 |
| New Mexico | $65,420 | $48,350 | $94,870 | 800 | 0.97 |
| New York | $79,460 | $51,540 | $134,430 | 11,160 | 1.22 |
| North Carolina | $66,080 | $46,840 | $95,220 | 6,490 | 1.39 |
| North Dakota | $78,570 | $55,150 | $100,390 | 180 | 0.44 |
| Ohio | $74,490 | $50,440 | $100,290 | 3,490 | 0.67 |
| Oklahoma | $59,280 | $41,410 | $94,850 | 2,090 | 1.29 |
| Oregon | $84,510 | $60,970 | $115,910 | 1,780 | 0.96 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,870 | $48,610 | $93,790 | 5,320 | 0.93 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,320 | $23,960 | $86,260 | 740 | 0.84 |
| Rhode Island | $77,420 | $57,950 | $110,940 | 270 | 0.57 |
| South Carolina | $58,840 | $36,140 | $84,860 | 2,500 | 1.15 |
| South Dakota | $64,940 | $47,670 | $89,050 | 200 | 0.46 |
| Tennessee | $59,870 | $38,670 | $84,600 | 2,500 | 0.81 |
| Texas | $64,810 | $43,220 | $105,160 | 18,230 | 1.37 |
| Utah | $74,130 | $48,690 | $99,630 | 1,240 | 0.76 |
| Vermont | $66,580 | $49,350 | $92,110 | 120 | 0.41 |
| Virginia | $75,660 | $50,090 | $104,480 | 6,550 | 1.69 |
| Washington | $96,140 | $63,840 | $121,700 | 3,090 | 0.92 |
| West Virginia | $64,000 | $34,090 | $92,930 | 540 | 0.81 |
| Wisconsin | $75,610 | $47,290 | $101,240 | 1,270 | 0.46 |
| Wyoming | $61,870 | $35,920 | $93,470 | 370 | 1.38 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for construction and building inspectors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 14,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for construction and building inspectors
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector CIP 46.0403
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Approve building plans that meet required specifications.
- Review and interpret plans, blueprints, site layouts, specifications, or construction methods to ensure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations.
- Issue permits for construction, relocation, demolition, or occupancy.
- Inspect bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, or foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety, or conformance to specifications and codes.
- Monitor installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, or appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations.
- Inspect and monitor construction sites to ensure adherence to safety standards, building codes, or specifications.
- Confer with owners, violators, or authorities to explain regulations or recommend remedial actions.
- Measure dimensions and verify level, alignment, or elevation of structures or fixtures to ensure compliance to building plans and codes.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Arc Second PocketCAD
- Automated permit system software
- Database software
- ESRI ArcView
- Email software
- Inspection Depot Home Guide System
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Evaluation, Time Management, Persuasion, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Building Code Administrator, Building Inspector, Building Official, Code Enforcement Officer, Code Inspector, Combination Building Inspector, Construction Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Public Works Inspector.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do construction and building inspectors make?
The national median annual wage for construction and building inspectors was $74,690 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $47,140 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $114,200. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do construction and building inspectors need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is construction and building inspectors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of construction and building inspectors to change 0.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 14,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay construction and building inspectors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($102,410), California ($101,290), Connecticut ($98,670). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.