How much does a building inspector make?
Answer: A typical building inspector in the United States makes $74,690 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 147,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Building inspector pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $47,140 | $74,690 | $114,200 | about 147,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $101,290 | about 13,000 |
| Connecticut | $98,670 | about 1,000 |
| Washington | $96,140 | about 3,000 |
| Minnesota | $88,670 | about 1,000 |
| Oregon | $84,510 | about 2,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, inspectors with more construction experience, useful skills, or sought-after licenses and certifications may earn more. Pay can also differ by employer, location, and how complex the inspection work is.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a building inspector do?
Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.
What's a typical day like?
They visit construction sites to check the work and tell builders what they find. Between visits, they review blueprints, write reports, and schedule inspections; some climb ladders or squeeze into tight spaces.
How to get this job
In the United States, building inspectors usually finish high school and gain five or more years of experience in a construction trade. They learn codes and inspection skills on the job, and some states or towns require a license or certification.
Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Some U.S. building inspectors climb ladders or crawl into tight spaces to check a building.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Construction and Extraction jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/construction-and-extraction/construction-and-building-inspectors
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY