What is the typical salary range for a Construction and Building Inspectors?

Pay typically falls between $61,000 and $98,000 per year depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

Construction and Building Inspectors Salary: $80,500 Average

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Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET

Average base salary

$80,500 / year

≈ $6,700 per month · $38.70 per hour

LocationOr metro area

25th percentile
$61,000Average
$80,50075th percentile
$98,000

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Construction and Building Inspectors salary by state

Alabama$66,500

Alaska$106,000

Arizona$81,000

Arkansas$59,500

California$107,500

Colorado$86,000

Connecticut$101,000

Delaware$75,500

District of Columbia$96,500

Florida$74,000

Georgia$73,500

Hawaii$82,500

Idaho$74,000

Illinois$83,000

Indiana$70,000

Iowa$73,500

Kansas$70,500

Kentucky$69,000

Louisiana$73,500

Maine$78,000

Maryland$82,500

Massachusetts$90,000

Michigan$74,000

Minnesota$93,500

Mississippi$57,500

Missouri$67,500

Montana$78,000

Nebraska$69,500

Nevada$81,000

New Hampshire$71,000

New Jersey$89,500

New Mexico$72,500

New York$89,500

North Carolina$71,500

North Dakota$81,000

Ohio$77,500

Oklahoma$66,000

Oregon$90,000

Pennsylvania$72,000

Rhode Island$83,500

South Carolina$62,000

South Dakota$69,500

Tennessee$63,500

Texas$72,500

Utah$76,000

Vermont$73,500

Virginia$79,000

Washington$96,500

West Virginia$70,500

Wisconsin$78,000

Wyoming$63,500

About this role

Construction and Building Inspectors is a professional role within the function in the Construction and Extraction job family.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Construction and Building Inspectorss do

Typical education: Post-Secondary Certificate

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.

Top skills: Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Speaking Active Listening Judgment and Decision Making Complex Problem Solving

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Construction and Building Inspectors pay by experience level

Entry level$49,000

Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)

Early career$61,000

A few years in (about the 25th percentile)

Experienced$77,500

Mid-career median pay

Senior$98,000

Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)

Top earners$118,000

Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)

Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.

Job outlook

-0.8%

projected change in jobs, 2024–2034

14,800

projected openings per year

Declining

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.

Construction and Building Inspectors salary by industry

Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS

61,650 workers

$80,000

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

57,320 workers

$80,500

Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

53,640 workers

$79,000

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services

47,310 workers

$81,500

Specialty Trade Contractors

6,900 workers

$76,500

Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

5,890 workers

$70,500

State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

5,310 workers

$79,500

Building Equipment Contractors

4,800 workers

$78,500

Utilities

4,150 workers

$109,500

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services

3,920 workers

$82,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Construction and Building Inspectors pays 24% above the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).

Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction

Energy Auditor$80,500

Roof Bolters, Mining$81,000

Boilermaker$83,000

Pile Driver Operator$83,500

Taper$75,000

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$74,500

Electrician$74,000

Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$73,500

Terrazzo Workers and Finishers$88,000

Structural Iron and Steel Workers$73,000

Careers related to Construction and Building Inspectors

Coroner$91,500

Aviation Inspector$91,500

Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,500

Solar Energy Installation Manager$89,500

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$55,500

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$74,500

Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Construction and Building Inspectors make?

The average base salary for a Construction and Building Inspectors in the United States is $80,500 per year, or about $38.70 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $61,000 and $98,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Construction and Extraction roles?

The Construction and Extraction job family averages $65,000 across 63 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
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