338 metro areas

Construction and Building Inspector Salary by City (2026)

Construction and building inspectors earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $124,430 a year, against $77,730 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($112,680 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $77,730BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $124,430San Jose, CA
Best after cost of living: $112,680San Jose, CA
Metro areas: 338With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for construction and building inspectors

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Jose, CA$124,430
San Francisco, CA$123,300
Santa Maria, CA$116,130
Santa Rosa, CA$110,070
Vallejo, CA$106,750
Sacramento, CA$104,690
Salinas, CA$104,670
Anchorage, AK$104,080
Napa, CA$102,650
Hartford, CT$101,940

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for construction and building inspectors
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$124,430
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$123,300
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$116,130
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$110,070
Vallejo, CA	$106,750
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$104,690
Salinas, CA	$104,670
Anchorage, AK	$104,080
Napa, CA	$102,650
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$101,940

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

San Jose, CA$124,430 nominal$112,680
Santa Maria, CA$116,130 nominal$106,740
San Francisco, CA$123,300 nominal$106,650
Rochester, MN$93,230 nominal$102,650
Santa Rosa, CA$110,070 nominal$102,120
Hartford, CT$101,940 nominal$99,220
Anchorage, AK$104,080 nominal$98,730
Vallejo, CA$106,750 nominal$98,410
Sacramento, CA$104,690 nominal$98,140
Norwich, CT$96,990 nominal$96,560

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for construction and building inspectors
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$112,680
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$106,740
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$106,650
Rochester, MN	$102,650
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$102,120
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$99,220
Anchorage, AK	$98,730
Vallejo, CA	$98,410
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$98,140
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$96,560

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Construction and Building Inspector salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Construction and Building Inspector pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Jose, CA	$124,430	$73,010	$149,740	$112,680
2	San Francisco, CA	$123,300	$81,290	$144,000	$106,650
3	Santa Maria, CA	$116,130	$71,220	$138,260	$106,740
4	Santa Rosa, CA	$110,070	$66,440	$131,580	$102,120
5	Vallejo, CA	$106,750	$69,080	$125,300	$98,410
6	Sacramento, CA	$104,690	$68,290	$122,600	$98,140
7	Salinas, CA	$104,670	$74,440	$119,560	$95,990
8	Anchorage, AK	$104,080	$75,090	$118,370	$98,730
9	Napa, CA	$102,650	$71,700	$117,870	$91,200
10	Hartford, CT	$101,940	$72,280	$116,540	$99,220
11	Los Angeles, CA	$99,720	$60,280	$119,120	$87,810
12	Stockton, CA	$99,650	$70,740	$113,880	$94,820
13	San Diego, CA	$99,240	$63,790	$116,690	$88,700
14	Wenatchee, WA	$98,630	$76,000	$109,780	$94,970
15	Yuba City, CA	$98,360	$63,880	$115,360	$94,370
16	Norwich, CT	$96,990	$74,610	$107,990	$96,560
17	Olympia, WA	$96,780	$64,380	$112,740	$93,350
18	Seattle, WA	$96,490	$70,820	$109,140	$86,820
19	Bremerton, WA	$96,180	$76,670	$105,790	$91,070
20	Bellingham, WA	$95,430	$71,340	$107,290	$92,350
21	Bridgeport, CT	$94,910	$70,080	$107,160	$88,810
22	New Haven, CT	$94,430	$60,800	$111,010	$90,310
23	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$93,770	$74,650	$103,190	$89,460
24	New York, NY-NJ	$93,640	$61,360	$109,530	$83,190
25	Chico, CA	$93,250	$64,770	$107,270	$92,150
26	Rochester, MN	$93,230	$76,420	$101,500	$102,650
27	Mount Vernon, WA	$93,140	$69,530	$104,790	$90,920
28	Santa Cruz, CA	$91,890	$54,080	$110,510	$83,620
29	Riverside, CA	$91,670	$61,530	$106,540	$86,120
30	Portland, OR-WA	$91,500	$68,290	$102,940	$86,790
31	San Luis Obispo, CA	$91,210	$56,530	$108,280	$83,990
32	Bozeman, MT	$90,650	$67,040	$102,270	$88,430
33	Kennewick, WA	$90,190	$62,460	$103,850	$90,120
34	Fresno, CA	$90,150	$57,280	$106,330	$88,250
35	Amherst Town, MA	$90,110	$68,390	$100,800	$89,890
36	Oxnard, CA	$89,860	$56,740	$106,160	$81,300
37	Walla Walla, WA	$89,730	$64,170	$102,320	$91,080
38	Waterbury, CT	$89,670	$61,610	$103,500	$89,870
39	Spokane, WA	$88,690	$66,310	$99,720	$88,380
40	Boston, MA-NH	$88,130	$58,430	$102,770	$81,400
41	Bend, OR	$86,880	$62,840	$98,740	$83,860
42	Denver, CO	$86,200	$60,150	$99,010	$81,490
43	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$85,180	$62,340	$96,430	$78,230
44	Modesto, CA	$85,050	$52,870	$100,900	$81,690
45	Chicago, IL-IN	$84,700	$54,020	$99,800	$81,760
46	Yakima, WA	$84,680	$62,900	$95,390	$88,630
47	Reno, NV	$84,590	$60,010	$96,700	$83,740
48	Boulder, CO	$84,300	$63,380	$94,600	$80,130
49	Providence, RI-MA	$83,640	$58,470	$96,010	$82,180
50	Trenton, NJ	$83,320	$57,910	$95,850	$80,750
51	Worcester, MA	$83,180	$55,200	$96,950	$81,130
52	Bakersfield, CA	$82,830	$49,000	$99,470	$82,100
53	Twin Falls, ID	$82,640	$50,040	$98,720	$89,720
54	Visalia, CA	$82,600	$58,030	$94,680	$82,740
55	Lafayette, LA	$82,470	$51,940	$97,510	$94,570
56	Barnstable Town, MA	$82,180	$59,900	$93,140	$83,560
57	Urban Honolulu, HI	$81,950	$57,700	$93,890	$73,850
58	Fort Collins, CO	$81,850	$56,640	$94,270	$80,940
59	Idaho Falls, ID	$81,830	$53,120	$95,950	$86,670
60	Redding, CA	$81,490	$49,460	$97,280	$80,940
61	Rochester, NY	$81,350	$53,250	$95,200	$83,840
62	Dayton, OH	$81,290	$58,570	$92,480	$87,700
63	Sierra Vista, AZ	$81,120	$58,360	$92,310	$90,900
64	Bloomington, IL	$81,060	$54,790	$94,020	$86,660
65	Lansing, MI	$80,890	$57,600	$92,370	$85,160
66	Phoenix, AZ	$80,810	$58,430	$91,850	$78,220
67	Salem, OR	$80,790	$59,860	$91,100	$77,950
68	Duluth, MN-WI	$80,750	$60,860	$90,520	$90,970
69	Slidell, LA	$80,660	$56,120	$92,750	$86,990
70	Portland, ME	$79,680	$58,320	$90,190	$78,230
71	Corvallis, OR	$78,920	$57,970	$89,230	$75,870
72	Buffalo, NY	$78,710	$55,080	$90,360	$82,120
73	St. Cloud, MN	$78,710	$59,450	$88,210	$89,820
74	Medford, OR	$78,520	$60,550	$87,360	$77,410
75	El Centro, CA	$78,480	$51,710	$91,690	$82,460
76	Pittsfield, MA	$78,400	$53,770	$90,540	$82,430
77	Madison, WI	$78,210	$54,870	$89,710	$80,390
78	Fargo, ND-MN	$78,170	$59,550	$87,320	$86,020
79	Colorado Springs, CO	$78,150	$57,970	$88,090	$77,600
80	Green Bay, WI	$78,150	$56,280	$88,900	$83,950
81	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$77,920	$54,950	$89,210	$82,740
82	Columbus, OH	$77,900	$57,450	$87,960	$81,600
83	Syracuse, NY	$77,580	$51,920	$90,230	$81,030
84	Milwaukee, WI	$77,540	$54,640	$88,840	$79,990
85	Toledo, OH	$77,440	$61,610	$85,240	$84,680
86	Watertown, NY	$77,330	$54,310	$88,670	$88,190
87	Eugene, OR	$77,290	$57,990	$86,800	$76,100
88	Springfield, MA	$77,290	$52,850	$89,340	$80,460
89	Baltimore, MD	$77,250	$57,890	$86,780	$73,930
90	Las Vegas, NV	$77,110	$55,640	$87,690	$76,940
91	Ames, IA	$76,960	$56,780	$86,900	$86,640
92	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$76,590	$55,470	$86,960	$74,680
93	Kiryas Joel, NY	$76,480	$49,610	$89,730	$69,890
94	Greeley, CO	$76,460	$52,890	$88,070	$76,330
95	Miami, FL	$76,360	$49,590	$89,540	$66,890
96	Richmond, VA	$75,940	$53,930	$86,800	$77,600
97	Gainesville, GA	$75,920	$54,770	$86,340	$78,460
98	Helena, MT	$75,650	$61,880	$82,430	$79,070
99	Austin, TX	$75,550	$52,830	$86,740	$77,040
100	Glens Falls, NY	$75,550	$50,730	$87,780	$79,640
101	La Crosse, WI-MN	$75,480	$52,190	$86,960	$82,250
102	Lewiston, ME	$75,400	$51,460	$87,190	$79,590
103	Albany, NY	$75,170	$51,110	$87,030	$75,500
104	Elizabethtown, KY	$75,090	$55,000	$84,990	$82,910
105	Champaign, IL	$74,980	$53,620	$85,510	$80,880
106	Kahului, HI	$74,960	$59,320	$82,680	$68,520
107	Salt Lake City, UT	$74,780	$54,310	$84,860	$74,140
108	Atlantic City, NJ	$74,480	$43,260	$89,880	$75,340
109	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$74,170	$53,960	$84,120	$77,770
110	Monroe, MI	$74,150	$57,640	$82,310	$79,310
111	Ogden, UT	$74,150	$52,870	$84,640	$73,890
112	Baton Rouge, LA	$74,110	$58,090	$82,010	$81,640
113	Cleveland, OH	$73,990	$53,620	$84,010	$78,780
114	Eau Claire, WI	$73,900	$44,950	$88,170	$79,640
115	Billings, MT	$73,860	$53,830	$83,720	$78,970
116	Winchester, VA-WV	$73,860	$50,670	$85,280	$76,580
117	Davenport, IA-IL	$73,610	$53,370	$83,600	$82,630
118	Detroit, MI	$73,550	$52,580	$83,890	$73,330
119	Atlanta, GA	$73,490	$50,420	$84,840	$73,450
120	Bloomington, IN	$73,490	$54,330	$82,910	$77,290
121	Ann Arbor, MI	$73,300	$47,670	$85,900	$72,660
122	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$73,300	$55,450	$82,080	$80,880
123	Oshkosh, WI	$73,240	$48,320	$85,510	$78,810
124	Pueblo, CO	$73,220	$46,860	$86,220	$79,790
125	Charlotte, NC-SC	$73,090	$53,870	$82,580	$75,080
126	Bismarck, ND	$72,920	$54,910	$81,790	$80,110
127	Lawrence, KS	$72,860	$58,090	$80,120	$80,740
128	Elmira, NY	$72,840	$47,880	$85,130	$77,160
129	St. George, UT	$72,820	$54,020	$82,060	$74,820
130	Flagstaff, AZ	$72,700	$58,910	$79,500	$72,460
131	Houma, LA	$72,650	$53,640	$82,010	$85,370
132	Pocatello, ID	$72,650	$48,050	$84,760	$81,720
133	Houston, TX	$72,630	$47,260	$85,130	$73,640
134	Iowa City, IA	$72,530	$55,450	$80,930	$79,260
135	Dallas, TX	$72,430	$49,570	$83,680	$70,260
136	Janesville, WI	$72,380	$48,610	$84,070	$77,240
137	Burlington, VT	$72,340	$57,660	$79,580	$71,660
138	Great Falls, MT	$72,220	$59,090	$78,690	$74,570
139	Paducah, KY-IL	$72,180	$45,470	$85,320	$83,850
140	Battle Creek, MI	$72,090	$46,280	$84,820	$79,620
141	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$72,070	$58,140	$78,940	$83,360
142	Des Moines, IA	$72,010	$50,610	$82,560	$78,530
143	Tucson, AZ	$71,990	$54,250	$80,720	$74,300
144	Binghamton, NY	$71,970	$49,940	$82,830	$77,500
145	Hattiesburg, MS	$71,950	$40,140	$87,610	$82,100
146	Rapid City, SD	$71,930	$55,450	$80,040	$80,680
147	Orlando, FL	$71,880	$47,050	$84,140	$70,870
148	Rocky Mount, NC	$71,860	$50,710	$82,280	$81,650
149	Reading, PA	$71,640	$56,450	$79,120	$73,810
150	Savannah, GA	$71,610	$51,940	$81,330	$75,220
151	Manchester, NH	$71,550	$52,670	$80,870	$67,720
152	Yuma, AZ	$71,530	$54,850	$79,730	$77,160
153	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$71,410	$55,310	$79,330	$72,650
154	Staunton, VA	$71,360	$51,830	$81,000	$78,310
155	Flint, MI	$71,300	$46,090	$83,720	$76,640
156	Lexington Park, MD	$71,300	$48,530	$82,510	$70,760
157	Cape Coral, FL	$71,260	$50,650	$81,410	$69,620
158	Kalamazoo, MI	$71,240	$51,110	$81,160	$75,120
159	Jacksonville, NC	$71,200	$47,090	$83,080	$77,320
160	Kansas City, MO-KS	$71,070	$54,250	$79,370	$76,800
161	Grand Rapids, MI	$70,950	$51,170	$80,700	$74,260
162	Naples, FL	$70,910	$46,450	$82,970	$68,710
163	Durham, NC	$70,840	$53,060	$79,600	$72,600
164	Lancaster, PA	$70,840	$49,960	$81,140	$72,100
165	Raleigh, NC	$70,720	$49,570	$81,140	$72,050
166	Akron, OH	$70,640	$51,400	$80,120	$75,660
167	Amarillo, TX	$70,620	$46,010	$82,740	$76,910
168	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$70,550	$43,720	$83,780	$75,800
169	Charlottesville, VA	$70,470	$51,920	$79,620	$71,080
170	Panama City, FL	$70,430	$49,300	$80,830	$72,390
171	Elkhart, IN	$70,410	$58,390	$76,320	$77,950
172	Utica, NY	$70,100	$46,840	$81,540	$75,640
173	Crestview, FL	$70,080	$45,610	$82,120	$72,220
174	Saginaw, MI	$70,080	$51,420	$79,250	$77,100
175	Tampa, FL	$70,080	$47,610	$81,140	$69,460
176	Spartanburg, SC	$69,970	$45,260	$82,140	$76,850
177	New Orleans, LA	$69,930	$51,150	$79,190	$75,520
178	Allentown, PA-NJ	$69,890	$53,330	$78,060	$69,910
179	Boise City, ID	$69,870	$50,590	$79,350	$71,010
180	Palm Bay, FL	$69,780	$47,360	$80,850	$69,780
181	Dalton, GA	$69,680	$55,450	$76,690	$77,560
182	Roanoke, VA	$69,600	$48,280	$80,080	$74,340
183	Rockford, IL	$69,430	$52,480	$77,770	$75,340
184	Racine, WI	$69,370	$45,360	$81,200	$72,290
185	Traverse City, MI	$69,370	$47,550	$80,120	$74,290
186	State College, PA	$69,350	$54,000	$76,900	$71,670
187	Bangor, ME	$69,260	$44,800	$81,310	$71,770
188	Indianapolis, IN	$69,200	$47,200	$80,040	$72,310
189	Owensboro, KY	$69,200	$44,010	$81,600	$78,100
190	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$69,200	$52,540	$77,420	$70,650
191	Fort Wayne, IN	$69,140	$52,230	$77,460	$74,690
192	Corpus Christi, TX	$69,120	$48,360	$79,330	$74,590
193	Provo, UT	$69,040	$48,480	$79,140	$70,280
194	Port St. Lucie, FL	$68,950	$46,050	$80,230	$68,790
195	Charleston, WV	$68,910	$46,570	$79,930	$77,670
196	Harrisburg, PA	$68,910	$54,620	$75,940	$69,850
197	Tulsa, OK	$68,910	$48,090	$79,160	$77,240
198	Auburn, AL	$68,890	$53,770	$76,360	$78,340
199	Dover, DE	$68,890	$52,960	$76,730	$70,650
200	Pittsburgh, PA	$68,810	$51,650	$77,250	$72,680
201	Canton, OH	$68,760	$51,960	$77,020	$76,910
202	Cedar Rapids, IA	$68,760	$51,540	$77,270	$77,290
203	Vineland, NJ	$68,620	$45,300	$80,120	$71,500
204	Albuquerque, NM	$68,580	$49,940	$77,750	$71,780
205	Appleton, WI	$68,470	$46,720	$79,190	$74,090
206	York, PA	$68,350	$50,070	$77,360	$71,200
207	Birmingham, AL	$68,240	$51,170	$76,650	$74,460
208	Jacksonville, FL	$68,080	$47,840	$78,060	$68,430
209	Chambersburg, PA	$68,060	$44,050	$79,870	$71,910
210	Manhattan, KS	$68,060	$52,120	$75,920	$75,490
211	Beaumont, TX	$68,040	$41,890	$80,910	$75,560
212	Greensboro, NC	$67,970	$52,790	$75,440	$73,190
213	Lafayette, IN	$67,970	$47,960	$77,810	$72,750
214	Pensacola, FL	$67,950	$41,770	$80,830	$69,540
215	San Antonio, TX	$67,950	$48,260	$77,650	$71,740
216	Warner Robins, GA	$67,870	$47,920	$77,690	$72,360
217	Ithaca, NY	$67,850	$48,530	$77,380	$65,670
218	Wichita, KS	$67,850	$48,530	$77,380	$76,280
219	Wildwood, FL	$67,830	$47,110	$78,020	$79,400
220	Kingston, NY	$67,790	$48,760	$77,170	$67,310
221	Muskegon, MI	$67,770	$51,110	$75,980	$73,250
222	Salisbury, MD	$67,750	$45,240	$78,810	$70,860
223	Wilmington, NC	$67,700	$50,610	$76,130	$70,210
224	Punta Gorda, FL	$67,640	$50,290	$76,170	$67,290
225	Omaha, NE-IA	$67,600	$46,860	$77,830	$73,550
226	Sebastian, FL	$67,600	$44,140	$79,160	$68,760
227	Midland, TX	$67,410	$43,800	$79,040	$70,380
228	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$67,390	$53,710	$74,130	$71,620
229	Montgomery, AL	$67,330	$47,070	$77,310	$75,080
230	Tyler, TX	$67,140	$43,450	$78,810	$72,850
231	Prescott Valley, AZ	$67,100	$58,360	$71,410	$68,290
232	Lexington, KY	$66,930	$38,210	$81,100	$72,050
233	North Port, FL	$66,890	$47,090	$76,650	$65,310
234	Gainesville, FL	$66,750	$44,180	$77,850	$69,000
235	St. Louis, MO-IL	$66,680	$48,900	$75,460	$70,120
236	Hickory, NC	$66,620	$47,550	$76,020	$75,290
237	Niles, MI	$66,620	$50,380	$74,630	$72,120
238	Asheville, NC	$66,500	$49,920	$74,650	$68,910
239	Burlington, NC	$66,500	$52,040	$73,610	$71,350
240	Fayetteville, NC	$66,410	$47,510	$75,730	$72,200
241	Grand Junction, CO	$66,370	$49,130	$74,860	$69,510
242	Blacksburg, VA	$66,310	$49,590	$74,550	$71,520
243	Lawton, OK	$66,210	$38,770	$79,730	$77,040
244	College Station, TX	$66,120	$45,220	$76,440	$72,700
245	Lynchburg, VA	$66,120	$46,130	$75,980	$73,990
246	Peoria, IL	$66,120	$41,930	$78,020	$72,480
247	Killeen, TX	$65,960	$44,890	$76,320	$72,380
248	Erie, PA	$65,730	$49,940	$73,510	$72,270
249	Longview, TX	$65,730	$42,350	$77,230	$73,450
250	Waterloo, IA	$65,730	$49,710	$73,610	$75,500
251	Oklahoma City, OK	$65,710	$44,220	$76,290	$72,680
252	Sherman, TX	$65,690	$44,300	$76,210	$70,050
253	Mobile, AL	$65,600	$48,710	$73,920	$74,460
254	Hinesville, GA	$65,480	$44,720	$75,710	$69,710
255	Harrisonburg, VA	$65,460	$50,400	$72,880	$68,980
256	Pinehurst, NC	$65,460	$50,710	$72,740	$74,100
257	Tallahassee, FL	$65,400	$46,340	$74,780	$69,630
258	Huntsville, AL	$65,230	$50,270	$72,590	$70,090
259	Daphne, AL	$65,190	$49,250	$73,050	$68,850
260	Farmington, NM	$65,170	$49,820	$72,740	$74,300
261	Nashville, TN	$65,170	$47,860	$73,670	$67,650
262	Michigan City, IN	$65,120	$49,170	$72,990	$71,030
263	Las Cruces, NM	$65,100	$50,070	$72,510	$72,160
264	South Bend, IN-MI	$65,100	$45,990	$74,530	$70,110
265	Lincoln, NE	$65,080	$50,840	$72,090	$71,060
266	Winston, NC	$64,810	$50,020	$72,090	$70,410
267	Clarksville, TN-KY	$64,750	$47,380	$73,300	$71,200
268	Scranton, PA	$64,690	$48,090	$72,860	$69,150
269	Tuscaloosa, AL	$64,480	$51,310	$70,950	$73,500
270	Youngstown, OH	$64,440	$47,010	$73,030	$73,740
271	Altoona, PA	$64,380	$50,980	$70,990	$71,930
272	Santa Fe, NM	$64,270	$49,940	$71,320	$65,070
273	Joplin, MO-KS	$64,170	$44,300	$73,960	$74,860
274	Goldsboro, NC	$63,980	$46,470	$72,590	$72,320
275	Shreveport, LA	$63,920	$48,320	$71,610	$75,410
276	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$63,900	$40,790	$75,280	$72,270
277	Deltona, FL	$63,770	$45,430	$72,800	$64,180
278	Lakeland, FL	$63,710	$42,140	$74,340	$65,590
279	Evansville, IN	$63,520	$42,990	$73,650	$69,400
280	Valdosta, GA	$63,420	$46,340	$71,820	$71,850
281	Columbus, GA-AL	$63,360	$44,530	$72,610	$70,960
282	Jefferson City, MO	$63,250	$48,860	$70,320	$71,900
283	Topeka, KS	$63,210	$42,930	$73,200	$71,170
284	Greenville, NC	$63,070	$45,610	$71,660	$71,340
285	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$63,020	$46,760	$71,030	$73,370
286	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$62,690	$44,990	$71,390	$68,010
287	Macon, GA	$62,420	$45,320	$70,840	$70,510
288	Charleston, SC	$62,250	$41,520	$72,470	$61,660
289	Columbia, SC	$62,130	$41,700	$72,200	$66,330
290	Johnstown, PA	$61,920	$49,250	$68,140	$72,060
291	Columbia, MO	$61,900	$48,050	$68,720	$69,210
292	Augusta, GA-SC	$61,800	$41,430	$71,820	$67,240
293	Lake Charles, LA	$61,530	$38,230	$73,010	$71,670
294	Casper, WY	$61,240	$38,420	$72,490	$65,270
295	Homosassa Springs, FL	$61,130	$41,330	$70,890	$65,400
296	Myrtle Beach, SC	$61,090	$44,720	$69,140	$65,240
297	Monroe, LA	$60,820	$45,510	$68,350	$72,750
298	Springfield, MO	$60,420	$46,050	$67,520	$68,210
299	Dothan, AL	$60,220	$45,880	$67,290	$71,830
300	Florence, SC	$60,090	$43,450	$68,290	$69,250
301	Abilene, TX	$60,050	$45,090	$67,430	$66,450
302	Williamsport, PA	$60,050	$47,320	$66,310	$65,020
303	Cheyenne, WY	$59,700	$39,940	$69,430	$61,870
304	Kingsport, TN-VA	$59,430	$43,640	$67,200	$68,750
305	Waco, TX	$59,380	$43,510	$67,200	$64,160
306	Decatur, AL	$59,240	$46,220	$65,640	$67,930
307	Hilton Head Island, SC	$59,240	$39,150	$69,140	$60,440
308	Knoxville, TN	$59,070	$43,080	$66,960	$63,810
309	Jackson, TN	$58,970	$43,280	$66,680	$68,950
310	Wheeling, WV-OH	$58,970	$40,520	$68,060	$66,770
311	El Paso, TX	$58,660	$40,660	$67,540	$65,240
312	Springfield, IL	$58,180	$43,660	$65,330	$62,730
313	Fayetteville, AR	$58,160	$42,700	$65,770	$63,670
314	Wichita Falls, TX	$57,990	$42,540	$65,600	$64,780
315	Little Rock, AR	$57,950	$42,830	$65,400	$64,850
316	Ocala, FL	$57,910	$42,160	$65,670	$60,810
317	Athens, GA	$57,840	$40,290	$66,500	$61,970
318	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$57,800	$42,560	$65,310	$63,190
319	Johnson City, TN	$57,370	$40,870	$65,500	$65,250
320	Texarkana, TX-AR	$57,140	$38,000	$66,540	$68,010
321	Muncie, IN	$56,910	$47,070	$61,760	$64,560
322	Lubbock, TX	$56,580	$43,200	$63,150	$61,960
323	Weirton, WV-OH	$56,580	$36,840	$66,290	$63,560
324	Brunswick, GA	$56,530	$44,720	$62,360	$64,450
325	McAllen, TX	$56,430	$37,320	$65,830	$65,700
326	San Angelo, TX	$56,350	$43,510	$62,670	$60,950
327	Jackson, MS	$56,200	$38,920	$64,710	$63,110
328	Gulfport, MS	$56,060	$38,560	$64,670	$62,280
329	Odessa, TX	$54,450	$41,450	$60,860	$57,990
330	Laredo, TX	$54,230	$38,670	$61,880	$62,360
331	Morristown, TN	$54,040	$34,070	$63,880	$62,570
332	Bowling Green, KY	$53,640	$34,720	$62,960	$59,480
333	Jonesboro, AR	$53,460	$40,870	$59,650	$62,250
334	Brownsville, TX	$53,160	$33,220	$62,980	$61,830
335	Greenville, SC	$52,560	$35,840	$60,800	$56,360
336	San Juan, PR	$50,840	$30,560	$60,840	N/A
337	Aguadilla, PR	$46,740	$22,670	$58,590	N/A
338	Ponce, PR	$35,780	$23,090	$42,020	N/A

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Construction and Building Inspector salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays construction and building inspectors the most?

San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $124,430 a year, followed by San Francisco, CA ($123,300), Santa Maria, CA ($116,130), Santa Rosa, CA ($110,070). The national mean is $77,730 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do construction and building inspectors earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($112,680 at national prices, $124,430 nominal), Santa Maria, CA ($106,740 at national prices, $116,130 nominal), San Francisco, CA ($106,650 at national prices, $123,300 nominal).

How much do construction and building inspectors make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $93,640; Los Angeles, CA: $99,720; Chicago, IL-IN: $84,700; Dallas, TX: $72,430; Houston, TX: $72,630 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do construction and building inspectors earn the least?

Of the 338 metro areas with their own estimate, Ponce, PR has the lowest mean wage, $35,780.