388 metro areas
Quality Inspector Salary by City (2026)
Quality inspectors earn the most in Seattle, WA, an average of $82,080 a year, against $53,450 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Parkersburg, WV ($91,690 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $53,450BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $82,080Seattle, WA
- Best after cost of living
- $91,690Parkersburg, WV
- Metro areas
- 388With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for quality inspectors
Top 10 metro areas
- Seattle, WA$82,080
- Lexington Park, MD$81,720
- Parkersburg, WV$79,830
- Anchorage, AK$73,840
- Lake Charles, LA$73,740
- Mount Vernon, WA$72,490
- Bremerton, WA$71,490
- Savannah, GA$69,350
- San Francisco, CA$68,450
- Billings, MT$68,290
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,080 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $81,720 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $79,830 |
| Anchorage, AK | $73,840 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $73,740 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $72,490 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $71,490 |
| Savannah, GA | $69,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $68,450 |
| Billings, MT | $68,290 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Parkersburg, WV$79,830 nominal$91,690
- Lake Charles, LA$73,740 nominal$85,890
- Lexington Park, MD$81,720 nominal$81,100
- Wichita, KS$66,870 nominal$75,180
- Seattle, WA$82,080 nominal$73,860
- Houma, LA$62,230 nominal$73,120
- Billings, MT$68,290 nominal$73,020
- Savannah, GA$69,350 nominal$72,840
- Wildwood, FL$61,710 nominal$72,240
- Mount Vernon, WA$72,490 nominal$70,760
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $91,690 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $85,890 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $81,100 |
| Wichita, KS | $75,180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $73,860 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $73,120 |
| Billings, MT | $73,020 |
| Savannah, GA | $72,840 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $72,240 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $70,760 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Quality 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.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $82,080 | $49,460 | $98,130 | $73,860 |
| 2 | Lexington Park, MD | $81,720 | $52,500 | $96,120 | $81,100 |
| 3 | Parkersburg, WV | $79,830 | $38,360 | $100,260 | $91,690 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $73,840 | $53,410 | $83,910 | $70,040 |
| 5 | Lake Charles, LA | $73,740 | $44,100 | $88,340 | $85,890 |
| 6 | Mount Vernon, WA | $72,490 | $45,880 | $85,590 | $70,760 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $71,490 | $52,810 | $80,680 | $67,690 |
| 8 | Savannah, GA | $69,350 | $42,370 | $82,620 | $72,840 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $68,450 | $46,510 | $79,250 | $59,210 |
| 10 | Billings, MT | $68,290 | $41,390 | $81,540 | $73,020 |
| 11 | Wichita, KS | $66,870 | $45,610 | $77,360 | $75,180 |
| 12 | San Jose, CA | $65,420 | $47,170 | $74,420 | $59,240 |
| 13 | Albany, NY | $65,330 | $44,450 | $75,610 | $65,610 |
| 14 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $65,040 | $40,680 | $77,040 | $59,730 |
| 15 | Kahului, HI | $64,630 | $46,590 | $73,510 | $59,080 |
| 16 | Bozeman, MT | $64,270 | $45,800 | $73,380 | $62,700 |
| 17 | Baltimore, MD | $64,130 | $41,770 | $75,130 | $61,380 |
| 18 | Boulder, CO | $64,130 | $46,550 | $72,780 | $60,960 |
| 19 | Great Falls, MT | $64,080 | $42,200 | $74,840 | $66,170 |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | $63,920 | $36,000 | $77,670 | $69,030 |
| 21 | Helena, MT | $63,480 | $43,100 | $73,510 | $66,350 |
| 22 | Bridgeport, CT | $63,400 | $41,560 | $74,150 | $59,330 |
| 23 | San Diego, CA | $63,230 | $43,430 | $72,990 | $56,510 |
| 24 | Hartford, CT | $62,980 | $42,600 | $73,030 | $61,300 |
| 25 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $62,800 | $43,180 | $72,470 | $67,860 |
| 26 | Fort Collins, CO | $62,420 | $45,780 | $70,620 | $61,720 |
| 27 | Houma, LA | $62,230 | $40,870 | $72,780 | $73,120 |
| 28 | Baton Rouge, LA | $62,210 | $39,500 | $73,400 | $68,530 |
| 29 | Wilmington, NC | $62,150 | $39,330 | $73,380 | $64,460 |
| 30 | Duluth, MN-WI | $61,980 | $48,440 | $68,640 | $69,820 |
| 31 | Bismarck, ND | $61,880 | $42,580 | $71,390 | $67,980 |
| 32 | Beaumont, TX | $61,800 | $36,520 | $74,240 | $68,630 |
| 33 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $61,730 | $37,420 | $73,720 | $55,630 |
| 34 | Grand Junction, CO | $61,710 | $42,830 | $71,030 | $64,630 |
| 35 | Wildwood, FL | $61,710 | $40,000 | $72,430 | $72,240 |
| 36 | Flagstaff, AZ | $61,510 | $45,430 | $69,450 | $61,310 |
| 37 | Las Vegas, NV | $61,360 | $34,550 | $74,550 | $61,230 |
| 38 | Mobile, AL | $61,260 | $36,520 | $73,440 | $69,540 |
| 39 | Denver, CO | $61,070 | $45,240 | $68,870 | $57,730 |
| 40 | Portland, OR-WA | $60,960 | $43,240 | $69,700 | $57,830 |
| 41 | Tucson, AZ | $60,960 | $43,180 | $69,740 | $62,910 |
| 42 | Lynchburg, VA | $60,840 | $39,370 | $71,410 | $68,080 |
| 43 | Albany, OR | $60,800 | $46,130 | $68,040 | $59,550 |
| 44 | Greeley, CO | $60,690 | $45,470 | $68,180 | $60,580 |
| 45 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $60,470 | $44,820 | $68,160 | $69,780 |
| 46 | Vallejo, CA | $60,440 | $41,450 | $69,800 | $55,720 |
| 47 | Gulfport, MS | $60,320 | $36,110 | $72,240 | $67,020 |
| 48 | Santa Cruz, CA | $60,200 | $43,260 | $68,540 | $54,780 |
| 49 | Ames, IA | $59,990 | $45,340 | $67,200 | $67,530 |
| 50 | Portland, ME | $59,860 | $41,680 | $68,830 | $58,770 |
| 51 | Redding, CA | $59,860 | $42,140 | $68,600 | $59,450 |
| 52 | Sacramento, CA | $59,820 | $43,450 | $67,890 | $56,080 |
| 53 | Bellingham, WA | $59,530 | $42,640 | $67,830 | $57,610 |
| 54 | Boston, MA-NH | $59,530 | $44,140 | $67,120 | $54,980 |
| 55 | Santa Maria, CA | $59,450 | $41,310 | $68,390 | $54,640 |
| 56 | Carson City, NV | $59,300 | $41,120 | $68,270 | $60,430 |
| 57 | Hanford, CA | $59,240 | $43,510 | $67,000 | $58,300 |
| 58 | Boise City, ID | $59,180 | $38,330 | $69,450 | $60,150 |
| 59 | Rochester, MN | $59,180 | $46,320 | $65,480 | $65,160 |
| 60 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $59,010 | $45,760 | $65,540 | $56,300 |
| 61 | Barnstable Town, MA | $58,930 | $44,160 | $66,210 | $59,920 |
| 62 | Farmington, NM | $58,740 | $43,390 | $66,310 | $66,970 |
| 63 | Lima, OH | $58,660 | $37,670 | $68,990 | $65,420 |
| 64 | Corpus Christi, TX | $58,610 | $34,570 | $70,450 | $63,250 |
| 65 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $58,510 | $40,750 | $67,270 | $67,970 |
| 66 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $58,490 | $42,580 | $66,330 | $53,860 |
| 67 | Cheyenne, WY | $58,470 | $42,450 | $66,350 | $60,600 |
| 68 | Pueblo, CO | $58,470 | $47,650 | $63,790 | $63,720 |
| 69 | Crestview, FL | $58,450 | $39,600 | $67,720 | $60,240 |
| 70 | Spokane, WA | $58,390 | $42,290 | $66,330 | $58,190 |
| 71 | Sebastian, FL | $58,340 | $37,630 | $68,540 | $59,340 |
| 72 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $58,280 | $42,220 | $66,210 | $59,510 |
| 73 | Casper, WY | $58,200 | $39,640 | $67,330 | $62,030 |
| 74 | Topeka, KS | $58,070 | $41,390 | $66,270 | $65,380 |
| 75 | Longview, WA | $57,950 | $42,430 | $65,600 | $59,410 |
| 76 | Corvallis, OR | $57,820 | $42,270 | $65,500 | $55,590 |
| 77 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,780 | $41,000 | $66,060 | $50,880 |
| 78 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,680 | $42,560 | $65,120 | $55,830 |
| 79 | Durham, NC | $57,570 | $37,590 | $67,410 | $59,000 |
| 80 | Missoula, MT | $57,410 | $41,230 | $65,370 | $59,530 |
| 81 | Minot, ND | $57,390 | $38,710 | $66,580 | $65,940 |
| 82 | Punta Gorda, FL | $57,350 | $32,140 | $69,740 | $57,050 |
| 83 | Weirton, WV-OH | $57,350 | $42,310 | $64,750 | $64,420 |
| 84 | Pensacola, FL | $57,300 | $37,190 | $67,230 | $58,640 |
| 85 | Charlottesville, VA | $57,280 | $41,540 | $65,020 | $57,770 |
| 86 | Tulsa, OK | $57,240 | $39,420 | $66,040 | $64,160 |
| 87 | Peoria, IL | $57,200 | $41,270 | $65,040 | $62,700 |
| 88 | Yuba City, CA | $57,180 | $39,400 | $65,940 | $54,860 |
| 89 | Santa Rosa, CA | $57,050 | $42,430 | $64,250 | $52,930 |
| 90 | Austin, TX | $56,970 | $34,780 | $67,890 | $58,090 |
| 91 | Amarillo, TX | $56,910 | $40,060 | $65,190 | $61,980 |
| 92 | Ogden, UT | $56,870 | $40,120 | $65,100 | $56,670 |
| 93 | Yuma, AZ | $56,870 | $39,250 | $65,540 | $61,340 |
| 94 | Trenton, NJ | $56,850 | $37,790 | $66,230 | $55,100 |
| 95 | Bloomington, IN | $56,800 | $41,770 | $64,190 | $59,740 |
| 96 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $56,800 | $39,150 | $65,500 | $63,650 |
| 97 | Olympia, WA | $56,760 | $39,000 | $65,520 | $54,750 |
| 98 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $56,720 | $39,940 | $65,000 | $55,310 |
| 99 | Kingston, NY | $56,530 | $42,470 | $63,440 | $56,130 |
| 100 | Staunton, VA | $56,350 | $40,330 | $64,250 | $61,840 |
| 101 | Madison, WI | $56,310 | $42,180 | $63,270 | $57,880 |
| 102 | Providence, RI-MA | $56,310 | $39,040 | $64,810 | $55,330 |
| 103 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $56,260 | $38,920 | $64,790 | $59,170 |
| 104 | Bend, OR | $56,180 | $42,040 | $63,170 | $54,220 |
| 105 | Columbus, GA-AL | $56,180 | $36,610 | $65,830 | $62,910 |
| 106 | Decatur, IL | $55,990 | $44,320 | $61,730 | $63,320 |
| 107 | Waterbury, CT | $55,990 | $38,310 | $64,710 | $56,110 |
| 108 | Merced, CA | $55,930 | $39,960 | $63,790 | $56,910 |
| 109 | Oshkosh, WI | $55,930 | $41,200 | $63,170 | $60,190 |
| 110 | Lincoln, NE | $55,790 | $42,810 | $62,170 | $60,920 |
| 111 | Colorado Springs, CO | $55,660 | $42,490 | $62,150 | $55,270 |
| 112 | Kennewick, WA | $55,620 | $40,560 | $63,040 | $55,580 |
| 113 | Albuquerque, NM | $55,560 | $39,350 | $63,540 | $58,150 |
| 114 | Sandusky, OH | $55,560 | $40,660 | $62,900 | $62,230 |
| 115 | Pittsfield, MA | $55,470 | $42,680 | $61,800 | $58,320 |
| 116 | Walla Walla, WA | $55,290 | $44,570 | $60,570 | $56,120 |
| 117 | Palm Bay, FL | $55,200 | $41,040 | $62,190 | $55,200 |
| 118 | Las Cruces, NM | $55,180 | $35,440 | $64,920 | $61,170 |
| 119 | Glens Falls, NY | $55,160 | $44,840 | $60,260 | $58,150 |
| 120 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $55,120 | $41,930 | $61,630 | $56,080 |
| 121 | Fargo, ND-MN | $55,100 | $45,120 | $60,030 | $60,640 |
| 122 | Chambersburg, PA | $55,080 | $40,460 | $62,280 | $58,200 |
| 123 | Napa, CA | $55,060 | $43,010 | $61,010 | $48,920 |
| 124 | Salt Lake City, UT | $55,040 | $39,460 | $62,710 | $54,570 |
| 125 | Davenport, IA-IL | $55,020 | $40,710 | $62,070 | $61,770 |
| 126 | Fond du Lac, WI | $55,000 | $43,350 | $60,740 | $60,020 |
| 127 | New Haven, CT | $55,000 | $40,680 | $62,030 | $52,600 |
| 128 | St. Cloud, MN | $55,000 | $43,560 | $60,630 | $62,760 |
| 129 | Burlington, VT | $54,970 | $41,890 | $61,440 | $54,450 |
| 130 | Augusta, GA-SC | $54,930 | $37,940 | $63,320 | $59,770 |
| 131 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $54,930 | $44,490 | $60,070 | $63,540 |
| 132 | Charleston, SC | $54,910 | $37,960 | $63,270 | $54,390 |
| 133 | Idaho Falls, ID | $54,910 | $28,720 | $67,830 | $58,160 |
| 134 | Oxnard, CA | $54,910 | $41,290 | $61,630 | $49,680 |
| 135 | Midland, TX | $54,890 | $38,360 | $63,020 | $57,310 |
| 136 | Modesto, CA | $54,830 | $40,930 | $61,670 | $52,670 |
| 137 | Naples, FL | $54,810 | $40,350 | $61,920 | $53,110 |
| 138 | Shreveport, LA | $54,790 | $35,300 | $64,380 | $64,640 |
| 139 | New York, NY-NJ | $54,770 | $38,710 | $62,690 | $48,660 |
| 140 | Sheboygan, WI | $54,750 | $43,310 | $60,380 | $58,240 |
| 141 | Mankato, MN | $54,680 | $44,720 | $59,610 | $60,120 |
| 142 | Waterloo, IA | $54,640 | $44,050 | $59,840 | $62,760 |
| 143 | Amherst Town, MA | $54,410 | $44,760 | $59,180 | $54,280 |
| 144 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $54,390 | $41,200 | $60,880 | $61,140 |
| 145 | Manchester, NH | $54,390 | $42,850 | $60,070 | $51,480 |
| 146 | Oklahoma City, OK | $54,370 | $36,500 | $63,170 | $60,140 |
| 147 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $54,350 | $42,000 | $60,440 | $62,920 |
| 148 | Reno, NV | $54,330 | $39,790 | $61,510 | $53,780 |
| 149 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $54,200 | $35,820 | $63,250 | $57,550 |
| 150 | Odessa, TX | $54,100 | $36,110 | $62,980 | $57,620 |
| 151 | Columbia, MO | $54,040 | $41,520 | $60,220 | $60,420 |
| 152 | Springfield, OH | $53,890 | $36,650 | $62,380 | $59,560 |
| 153 | Springfield, IL | $53,790 | $38,170 | $61,480 | $58,000 |
| 154 | Abilene, TX | $53,580 | $38,210 | $61,130 | $59,290 |
| 155 | Muskegon, MI | $53,580 | $39,960 | $60,300 | $57,910 |
| 156 | Slidell, LA | $53,580 | $32,800 | $63,810 | $57,780 |
| 157 | Raleigh, NC | $53,560 | $38,830 | $60,820 | $54,570 |
| 158 | Atlantic City, NJ | $53,440 | $37,090 | $61,480 | $54,060 |
| 159 | Racine, WI | $53,440 | $42,220 | $58,950 | $55,690 |
| 160 | Syracuse, NY | $53,410 | $40,810 | $59,610 | $55,790 |
| 161 | Waco, TX | $53,370 | $35,380 | $62,250 | $57,670 |
| 162 | Eau Claire, WI | $53,310 | $39,370 | $60,170 | $57,450 |
| 163 | Appleton, WI | $53,290 | $40,210 | $59,740 | $57,660 |
| 164 | Panama City, FL | $53,270 | $34,990 | $62,280 | $54,750 |
| 165 | Columbus, IN | $53,250 | $38,330 | $60,590 | $57,260 |
| 166 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,230 | $37,630 | $60,920 | $56,230 |
| 167 | Grand Island, NE | $53,190 | $45,180 | $57,140 | $61,380 |
| 168 | Bakersfield, CA | $53,100 | $35,880 | $61,590 | $52,630 |
| 169 | Greenville, NC | $53,100 | $35,860 | $61,590 | $60,070 |
| 170 | Evansville, IN | $53,040 | $35,570 | $61,650 | $57,950 |
| 171 | Wausau, WI | $53,040 | $40,500 | $59,220 | $57,250 |
| 172 | Wichita Falls, TX | $53,040 | $36,460 | $61,190 | $59,250 |
| 173 | Dover, DE | $52,960 | $37,730 | $60,470 | $54,310 |
| 174 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $52,960 | $38,940 | $59,880 | $48,400 |
| 175 | Milwaukee, WI | $52,940 | $39,730 | $59,450 | $54,610 |
| 176 | Elmira, NY | $52,870 | $40,850 | $58,780 | $56,010 |
| 177 | Asheville, NC | $52,850 | $39,460 | $59,470 | $54,760 |
| 178 | Chicago, IL-IN | $52,850 | $38,690 | $59,820 | $51,020 |
| 179 | Cleveland, OH | $52,810 | $37,710 | $60,240 | $56,230 |
| 180 | Buffalo, NY | $52,790 | $38,130 | $60,030 | $55,080 |
| 181 | Akron, OH | $52,730 | $37,210 | $60,380 | $56,470 |
| 182 | Rocky Mount, NC | $52,730 | $36,170 | $60,880 | $59,910 |
| 183 | Lewiston, ME | $52,690 | $35,760 | $61,050 | $55,620 |
| 184 | Springfield, MA | $52,690 | $41,430 | $58,240 | $54,850 |
| 185 | Saginaw, MI | $52,560 | $37,340 | $60,070 | $57,830 |
| 186 | Lawton, OK | $52,540 | $39,870 | $58,780 | $61,130 |
| 187 | Charleston, WV | $52,480 | $36,610 | $60,300 | $59,150 |
| 188 | Jefferson City, MO | $52,480 | $39,290 | $58,970 | $59,650 |
| 189 | Lawrence, KS | $52,440 | $41,120 | $57,990 | $58,110 |
| 190 | Des Moines, IA | $52,350 | $37,860 | $59,510 | $57,090 |
| 191 | Iowa City, IA | $52,350 | $40,890 | $58,010 | $57,210 |
| 192 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $52,350 | $36,940 | $59,950 | $52,230 |
| 193 | Jacksonville, FL | $52,270 | $36,300 | $60,130 | $52,540 |
| 194 | San Antonio, TX | $52,270 | $35,240 | $60,670 | $55,190 |
| 195 | Medford, OR | $52,210 | $42,810 | $56,850 | $51,470 |
| 196 | Hinesville, GA | $52,150 | $37,540 | $59,340 | $55,520 |
| 197 | Lafayette, IN | $52,080 | $33,360 | $61,320 | $55,740 |
| 198 | Reading, PA | $52,020 | $38,560 | $58,660 | $53,600 |
| 199 | North Port, FL | $52,000 | $36,960 | $59,400 | $50,770 |
| 200 | Warner Robins, GA | $51,920 | $39,870 | $57,840 | $55,360 |
| 201 | Stockton, CA | $51,850 | $38,810 | $58,280 | $49,340 |
| 202 | Battle Creek, MI | $51,810 | $36,730 | $59,240 | $57,220 |
| 203 | Kokomo, IN | $51,810 | $37,610 | $58,800 | $57,790 |
| 204 | Omaha, NE-IA | $51,810 | $40,350 | $57,450 | $56,370 |
| 205 | Dallas, TX | $51,790 | $35,030 | $60,050 | $50,240 |
| 206 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $51,770 | $36,150 | $59,450 | $59,890 |
| 207 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $51,730 | $37,810 | $58,590 | $51,750 |
| 208 | Richmond, VA | $51,650 | $36,920 | $58,910 | $52,780 |
| 209 | Canton, OH | $51,630 | $38,190 | $58,240 | $57,750 |
| 210 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $51,630 | $37,380 | $58,640 | $54,140 |
| 211 | Roanoke, VA | $51,630 | $39,170 | $57,760 | $55,150 |
| 212 | Jacksonville, NC | $51,600 | $39,830 | $57,410 | $56,040 |
| 213 | Riverside, CA | $51,600 | $39,500 | $57,570 | $48,480 |
| 214 | Green Bay, WI | $51,560 | $38,940 | $57,760 | $55,390 |
| 215 | York, PA | $51,560 | $39,500 | $57,510 | $53,710 |
| 216 | Indianapolis, IN | $51,540 | $36,130 | $59,130 | $53,860 |
| 217 | Binghamton, NY | $51,520 | $38,750 | $57,820 | $55,480 |
| 218 | Worcester, MA | $51,500 | $38,170 | $58,070 | $50,230 |
| 219 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $51,380 | $40,930 | $56,530 | $52,290 |
| 220 | Houston, TX | $51,330 | $34,150 | $59,800 | $52,040 |
| 221 | Kankakee, IL | $51,290 | $39,420 | $57,140 | $53,210 |
| 222 | Utica, NY | $51,270 | $38,630 | $57,510 | $55,320 |
| 223 | Ann Arbor, MI | $51,230 | $36,630 | $58,430 | $50,780 |
| 224 | Dubuque, IA | $51,190 | $41,620 | $55,890 | $58,620 |
| 225 | Logan, UT-ID | $51,190 | $37,670 | $57,840 | $53,360 |
| 226 | Spartanburg, SC | $51,190 | $36,400 | $58,470 | $56,220 |
| 227 | Decatur, AL | $51,110 | $36,340 | $58,390 | $58,600 |
| 228 | Miami, FL | $50,860 | $33,550 | $59,360 | $44,550 |
| 229 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $50,790 | $36,460 | $57,840 | $52,170 |
| 230 | Rapid City, SD | $50,750 | $37,150 | $57,450 | $56,920 |
| 231 | Joplin, MO-KS | $50,730 | $39,730 | $56,160 | $59,180 |
| 232 | Lancaster, PA | $50,710 | $36,630 | $57,640 | $51,610 |
| 233 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,690 | $36,730 | $57,570 | $54,460 |
| 234 | Rochester, NY | $50,650 | $37,690 | $57,030 | $52,200 |
| 235 | Columbia, SC | $50,630 | $36,150 | $57,760 | $54,060 |
| 236 | Lexington, KY | $50,630 | $35,090 | $58,300 | $54,510 |
| 237 | Terre Haute, IN | $50,560 | $37,920 | $56,780 | $57,590 |
| 238 | Columbus, OH | $50,540 | $36,440 | $57,490 | $52,940 |
| 239 | Longview, TX | $50,520 | $35,670 | $57,840 | $56,460 |
| 240 | Salisbury, MD | $50,440 | $35,190 | $57,950 | $52,750 |
| 241 | Manhattan, KS | $50,420 | $39,790 | $55,660 | $55,920 |
| 242 | Nashville, TN | $50,420 | $35,760 | $57,640 | $52,340 |
| 243 | Hammond, LA | $50,210 | $31,820 | $59,260 | $59,450 |
| 244 | Paducah, KY-IL | $50,170 | $34,550 | $57,870 | $58,280 |
| 245 | Huntsville, AL | $50,130 | $35,190 | $57,490 | $53,860 |
| 246 | Tallahassee, FL | $50,130 | $32,550 | $58,780 | $53,380 |
| 247 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $50,070 | $31,870 | $59,010 | $56,690 |
| 248 | Provo, UT | $50,040 | $37,810 | $56,060 | $50,940 |
| 249 | Atlanta, GA | $50,020 | $36,050 | $56,910 | $49,990 |
| 250 | Pocatello, ID | $50,020 | $39,620 | $55,140 | $56,260 |
| 251 | Salem, OR | $49,980 | $37,400 | $56,160 | $48,220 |
| 252 | Yakima, WA | $49,980 | $36,960 | $56,390 | $52,310 |
| 253 | Watertown, NY | $49,960 | $39,600 | $55,080 | $56,970 |
| 254 | Sumter, SC | $49,900 | $38,850 | $55,330 | $56,690 |
| 255 | Daphne, AL | $49,860 | $34,440 | $57,470 | $52,660 |
| 256 | Greenville, SC | $49,820 | $36,090 | $56,580 | $53,420 |
| 257 | Kalamazoo, MI | $49,770 | $35,920 | $56,600 | $52,480 |
| 258 | Toledo, OH | $49,770 | $35,010 | $57,050 | $54,420 |
| 259 | Little Rock, AR | $49,750 | $37,860 | $55,620 | $55,670 |
| 260 | Tampa, FL | $49,750 | $35,460 | $56,780 | $49,310 |
| 261 | Bloomington, IL | $49,730 | $36,550 | $56,220 | $53,170 |
| 262 | Eugene, OR | $49,690 | $36,590 | $56,140 | $48,920 |
| 263 | Rockford, IL | $49,690 | $37,750 | $55,560 | $53,920 |
| 264 | El Centro, CA | $49,610 | $36,920 | $55,870 | $52,130 |
| 265 | St. George, UT | $49,590 | $37,230 | $55,660 | $50,960 |
| 266 | Bangor, ME | $49,570 | $34,990 | $56,740 | $51,360 |
| 267 | Janesville, WI | $49,520 | $37,520 | $55,430 | $52,850 |
| 268 | Dayton, OH | $49,440 | $36,050 | $56,060 | $53,340 |
| 269 | Elkhart, IN | $49,440 | $35,840 | $56,140 | $54,740 |
| 270 | Johnstown, PA | $49,440 | $35,940 | $56,100 | $57,540 |
| 271 | Orlando, FL | $49,360 | $34,400 | $56,740 | $48,670 |
| 272 | Visalia, CA | $49,340 | $36,650 | $55,580 | $49,430 |
| 273 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $49,320 | $31,550 | $58,050 | $58,710 |
| 274 | Harrisburg, PA | $49,300 | $37,090 | $55,310 | $49,970 |
| 275 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $49,300 | $36,960 | $55,370 | $53,720 |
| 276 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $49,280 | $37,150 | $55,270 | $53,880 |
| 277 | Lansing, MI | $49,280 | $35,010 | $56,280 | $51,880 |
| 278 | Scranton, PA | $49,230 | $36,550 | $55,470 | $52,620 |
| 279 | Chico, CA | $49,190 | $36,590 | $55,390 | $48,610 |
| 280 | Wenatchee, WA | $49,150 | $38,630 | $54,350 | $47,330 |
| 281 | Lebanon, PA | $49,030 | $37,150 | $54,890 | $52,600 |
| 282 | Jonesboro, AR | $49,000 | $37,040 | $54,890 | $57,060 |
| 283 | Fort Wayne, IN | $48,960 | $36,090 | $55,310 | $52,890 |
| 284 | South Bend, IN-MI | $48,920 | $36,420 | $55,060 | $52,680 |
| 285 | Grants Pass, OR | $48,880 | $35,860 | $55,290 | $50,000 |
| 286 | Ithaca, NY | $48,860 | $35,240 | $55,580 | $47,290 |
| 287 | Kenosha, WI | $48,840 | $37,540 | $54,410 | $48,300 |
| 288 | Gainesville, FL | $48,800 | $34,630 | $55,790 | $50,450 |
| 289 | Springfield, MO | $48,710 | $36,210 | $54,870 | $54,990 |
| 290 | Beckley, WV | $48,670 | $30,850 | $57,450 | $55,080 |
| 291 | Lakeland, FL | $48,670 | $35,670 | $55,060 | $50,100 |
| 292 | Winston, NC | $48,670 | $34,900 | $55,470 | $52,880 |
| 293 | Blacksburg, VA | $48,630 | $36,300 | $54,700 | $52,450 |
| 294 | Deltona, FL | $48,630 | $35,300 | $55,200 | $48,940 |
| 295 | Detroit, MI | $48,590 | $35,280 | $55,140 | $48,450 |
| 296 | Midland, MI | $48,590 | $35,300 | $55,140 | $52,860 |
| 297 | Anniston, AL | $48,530 | $34,990 | $55,200 | $56,460 |
| 298 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $48,460 | $36,190 | $54,520 | $49,440 |
| 299 | Winchester, VA-WV | $48,440 | $36,520 | $54,330 | $50,220 |
| 300 | Greensboro, NC | $48,400 | $33,320 | $55,810 | $52,120 |
| 301 | Fayetteville, NC | $48,340 | $31,470 | $56,660 | $52,560 |
| 302 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $48,340 | $39,870 | $52,520 | $51,370 |
| 303 | Florence, SC | $48,260 | $34,010 | $55,290 | $55,620 |
| 304 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $48,260 | $35,690 | $54,430 | $52,350 |
| 305 | Bay City, MI | $48,190 | $32,070 | $56,120 | $52,430 |
| 306 | Fresno, CA | $48,170 | $36,380 | $53,980 | $47,150 |
| 307 | Albany, GA | $48,130 | $31,050 | $56,530 | $54,900 |
| 308 | Killeen, TX | $48,130 | $34,900 | $54,660 | $52,810 |
| 309 | Ocala, FL | $48,110 | $35,320 | $54,410 | $50,520 |
| 310 | Knoxville, TN | $48,090 | $34,960 | $54,560 | $51,950 |
| 311 | Owensboro, KY | $48,050 | $36,300 | $53,830 | $54,230 |
| 312 | Youngstown, OH | $47,920 | $35,340 | $54,120 | $54,830 |
| 313 | Champaign, IL | $47,900 | $37,130 | $53,230 | $51,670 |
| 314 | Twin Falls, ID | $47,900 | $36,170 | $53,660 | $52,000 |
| 315 | Harrisonburg, VA | $47,650 | $37,340 | $52,750 | $50,210 |
| 316 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $47,630 | $39,290 | $51,730 | $52,550 |
| 317 | Gettysburg, PA | $47,590 | $38,420 | $52,100 | $49,900 |
| 318 | Cape Coral, FL | $47,570 | $33,180 | $54,660 | $46,480 |
| 319 | Michigan City, IN | $47,570 | $37,460 | $52,560 | $51,890 |
| 320 | Rome, GA | $47,570 | $33,300 | $54,600 | $52,760 |
| 321 | Athens, GA | $47,550 | $35,550 | $53,460 | $50,940 |
| 322 | Monroe, LA | $47,550 | $31,430 | $55,490 | $56,880 |
| 323 | Vineland, NJ | $47,440 | $36,250 | $52,960 | $49,430 |
| 324 | Salinas, CA | $47,360 | $38,130 | $51,900 | $43,430 |
| 325 | Alexandria, LA | $47,320 | $30,040 | $55,850 | $55,220 |
| 326 | Hot Springs, AR | $47,320 | $34,200 | $53,790 | $55,200 |
| 327 | Muncie, IN | $47,300 | $32,320 | $54,680 | $53,660 |
| 328 | Sherman, TX | $47,130 | $32,720 | $54,230 | $50,260 |
| 329 | Lafayette, LA | $47,030 | $36,030 | $52,440 | $53,930 |
| 330 | Jackson, TN | $46,970 | $34,550 | $53,060 | $54,920 |
| 331 | Niles, MI | $46,950 | $34,960 | $52,850 | $50,830 |
| 332 | Santa Fe, NM | $46,950 | $38,130 | $51,290 | $47,540 |
| 333 | Johnson City, TN | $46,840 | $34,400 | $52,980 | $53,270 |
| 334 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,700 | $35,980 | $51,960 | $51,350 |
| 335 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $46,570 | $37,480 | $51,060 | $51,090 |
| 336 | Lubbock, TX | $46,550 | $32,610 | $53,390 | $50,980 |
| 337 | Traverse City, MI | $46,470 | $35,030 | $52,100 | $49,770 |
| 338 | San Juan, PR | $46,450 | $26,080 | $56,470 | N/A |
| 339 | Morristown, TN | $46,430 | $35,760 | $51,670 | $53,760 |
| 340 | College Station, TX | $46,380 | $34,940 | $52,000 | $50,990 |
| 341 | Jackson, MI | $46,360 | $33,610 | $52,620 | $50,510 |
| 342 | Altoona, PA | $46,160 | $33,570 | $52,330 | $51,570 |
| 343 | San Angelo, TX | $45,990 | $30,950 | $53,390 | $49,740 |
| 344 | Williamsport, PA | $45,910 | $33,200 | $52,170 | $49,710 |
| 345 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $45,880 | $31,660 | $52,870 | $51,890 |
| 346 | Hattiesburg, MS | $45,700 | $32,680 | $52,120 | $52,150 |
| 347 | Birmingham, AL | $45,660 | $33,650 | $51,560 | $49,820 |
| 348 | Bowling Green, KY | $45,590 | $34,320 | $51,150 | $50,560 |
| 349 | State College, PA | $45,510 | $35,860 | $50,250 | $47,030 |
| 350 | Montgomery, AL | $45,360 | $28,890 | $53,480 | $50,580 |
| 351 | Erie, PA | $45,160 | $33,490 | $50,900 | $49,650 |
| 352 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $45,010 | $29,930 | $52,440 | $48,070 |
| 353 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $44,970 | $35,030 | $49,860 | $52,360 |
| 354 | Monroe, MI | $44,910 | $33,590 | $50,460 | $48,040 |
| 355 | Enid, OK | $44,870 | $34,420 | $50,000 | $53,250 |
| 356 | Elizabethtown, KY | $44,820 | $34,960 | $49,670 | $49,490 |
| 357 | Fayetteville, AR | $44,780 | $36,070 | $49,090 | $49,020 |
| 358 | Brunswick, GA | $44,720 | $32,970 | $50,500 | $50,990 |
| 359 | Morgantown, WV | $44,620 | $29,540 | $52,040 | $47,810 |
| 360 | Hickory, NC | $44,370 | $35,030 | $48,940 | $50,140 |
| 361 | Gainesville, GA | $44,350 | $33,110 | $49,880 | $45,830 |
| 362 | Mansfield, OH | $44,350 | $35,050 | $48,940 | $49,900 |
| 363 | Jackson, MS | $44,140 | $32,680 | $49,800 | $49,570 |
| 364 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $43,640 | $30,870 | $49,940 | $49,750 |
| 365 | Valdosta, GA | $43,410 | $33,680 | $48,210 | $49,180 |
| 366 | Grand Rapids, MI | $43,200 | $33,800 | $47,820 | $45,210 |
| 367 | Tyler, TX | $43,180 | $32,070 | $48,670 | $46,860 |
| 368 | Dalton, GA | $43,120 | $35,670 | $46,780 | $47,990 |
| 369 | Macon, GA | $42,120 | $33,160 | $46,550 | $47,580 |
| 370 | McAllen, TX | $42,060 | $26,040 | $49,940 | $48,970 |
| 371 | Cleveland, TN | $42,000 | $28,020 | $48,880 | $47,680 |
| 372 | El Paso, TX | $41,640 | $26,940 | $48,880 | $46,310 |
| 373 | Goldsboro, NC | $40,960 | $34,470 | $44,160 | $46,300 |
| 374 | Burlington, NC | $40,910 | $29,850 | $46,360 | $43,900 |
| 375 | Victoria, TX | $40,830 | $31,760 | $45,300 | $45,450 |
| 376 | Flint, MI | $40,560 | $32,140 | $44,700 | $43,600 |
| 377 | Brownsville, TX | $40,410 | $27,000 | $47,030 | $47,000 |
| 378 | Auburn, AL | $40,100 | $27,370 | $46,380 | $45,600 |
| 379 | Sebring, FL | $39,100 | $27,770 | $44,680 | $42,280 |
| 380 | Pinehurst, NC | $38,560 | $28,870 | $43,350 | $43,650 |
| 381 | Florence, AL | $38,250 | $28,100 | $43,240 | $45,100 |
| 382 | Dothan, AL | $37,250 | $27,560 | $42,020 | $44,430 |
| 383 | Laredo, TX | $36,480 | $24,980 | $42,140 | $41,950 |
| 384 | Gadsden, AL | $35,280 | $26,670 | $39,520 | $41,190 |
| 385 | Ponce, PR | $32,030 | $26,060 | $34,990 | N/A |
| 386 | Arecibo, PR | $30,350 | $22,980 | $33,970 | N/A |
| 387 | Aguadilla, PR | $29,290 | $23,150 | $32,300 | N/A |
| 388 | Mayaguez, PR | $27,750 | $21,840 | $30,680 | N/A |
More
More on quality inspectors
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
Quality Inspector salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays quality inspectors the most?
Seattle, WA, where the average (mean) wage is $82,080 a year, followed by Lexington Park, MD ($81,720), Parkersburg, WV ($79,830), Anchorage, AK ($73,840). The national mean is $53,450 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do quality inspectors earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Parkersburg, WV ($91,690 at national prices, $79,830 nominal), Lake Charles, LA ($85,890 at national prices, $73,740 nominal), Lexington Park, MD ($81,100 at national prices, $81,720 nominal).
How much do quality inspectors make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $54,770; Los Angeles, CA: $57,780; Chicago, IL-IN: $52,850; Dallas, TX: $51,790; Houston, TX: $51,330 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do quality inspectors earn the least?
Of the 388 metro areas with their own estimate, Mayaguez, PR has the lowest mean wage, $27,750.