Building inspector pay by state (BLS data)
How much does a building inspector make? Building inspectors earn a national median of $74,690 a year, or $35.91 an hour, and an average of $77,730 a year, or $37.37 an hour, in the May 2025 BLS wage estimates for Construction and Building Inspectors. The highest state averages pass $100,000, in California and Alaska. BLS occupation profile.
These are occupation-wide figures, not a salary schedule for holders of ICC Residential Building Inspector certification. Use them as a benchmark when comparing work, location and employer expectations. For the certification route itself, start with the Rafter Tie overview and the B1 exam outline guide.
Which workers and release are included?
The occupation is SOC 47-4011, Construction and Building Inspectors. BLS describes work inspecting structures for soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes and other regulations. The category includes general inspections and inspections limited to a specialty, such as electrical systems or plumbing. It therefore extends beyond residential building inspectors preparing for B1.
All wage figures here use May 2025 estimates, released 15 May 2026. The release notice gives the publication date; the OEWS tables provide the national and geographic data.
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States with the highest annual average wages
The May 2025 OEWS profile reports these leading state annual mean wages for this occupation:
- California: $103,850.
- Alaska: $102,330.
- Connecticut: $97,580.
- Washington: $93,070.
- Minnesota: $90,440.
The District of Columbia, shown separately because it is not a state, had an annual mean of $93,030. It appears between Washington and Minnesota in BLS's geographic ranking.
This is a highest-average shortlist, not a full state directory. To reproduce it, select Construction and Building Inspectors, Annual mean wage and State in the profile, then expand the displayed ranking to include Minnesota. For other locations, use the state download linked from the OEWS tables.
The national mean is the right national comparison for these state means. A state average is not an entry-level offer or a municipal pay grade. Before considering a move, compare actual duties, local vacancies and living costs, since a statewide figure can hide large differences between cities and employers.
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Median and average answer different questions
The median marks the middle of the wage distribution. The mean is the average across workers in the occupation. Neither identifies the wage for a particular experience level. BLS's OEWS FAQs explain the measures and survey coverage.
Use a consistent measure when comparing locations. If a vacancy gives an hourly base rate, start with an hourly benchmark. If it gives an annual salary, work out the expected schedule before comparing annual amounts. Keep your own overtime estimate separate from the published OEWS wage.
OEWS covers wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed. It measures straight-time gross wages; overtime pay, on-call pay and shift differentials are excluded. Annual wage estimates generally use a full-time, year-round schedule of 2,080 hours. These figures are not take-home pay or a valuation of benefits.
What does B1 certification do for pay?
The OEWS profile does not separate B1 holders from other workers, so it shows no certification premium. Employer pay policies differ, so compare offers on their own terms.
When comparing opportunities, record the base pay, expected hours, inspection specialties, travel, benefits and progression requirements. Find out whether the job requires certification at hiring or lets you earn it after starting, and who pays for the reference book, exam attempts and study time. A printed ICC exam cost estimate puts the fees, books and retakes on one page for that conversation. Those details tell you more about an offer than a state ranking alone.
Read the exam cost and scheduling guide and B1 outline guide to plan the route.
FAQ
How much does a building inspector make?
The May 2025 BLS estimates put the national median at $74,690 a year, or $35.91 an hour. The national average is $77,730 a year, or $37.37 an hour. Both cover all Construction and Building Inspectors, before overtime.
How much does a building code inspector make?
BLS counts building code inspectors in the same occupation, Construction and Building Inspectors (SOC 47-4011), so the same figures apply: a $74,690 median and a $77,730 average a year. City, county and private-provider offers differ, so compare the posted rate for your area.
Which states pay building inspectors the most?
By annual average wage in May 2025: California $103,850, Alaska $102,330, Connecticut $97,580, Washington $93,070 and Minnesota $90,440. The District of Columbia averaged $93,030.
Does ICC B1 certification raise pay?
BLS does not report pay by certification, so no public figure shows a B1 premium. Some jobs ask for B1 at hiring and others let you earn it after you start, so check the posting and ask who pays for the exam and the code book.
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Sources
Show the list
- OEWS Occupation Profile: Construction and Building Inspectors, SOC 47-4011, May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Occupational Employment and Wages: May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- OEWS Frequently Asked Questions, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Facts come from the sources listed above. If something has changed, tell us and we will correct it within 2 business days.
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