Construction and Building Inspectors salary in California
Construction and Building Inspectors in California earn a median of $101,290 a year ($48.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,550 for the top 10%. That is 36% higher than the national median of $74,690. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for construction and building inspectors pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.74 construction and building inspectors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $103,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for construction and building inspectors in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,220 | $27.03 |
| 25th percentile | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| Median | $101,290 | $48.70 |
| 75th percentile | $128,530 | $61.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,550 | $77.67 |
| Average (mean) | $103,850 | $49.93 |
Half of construction and building inspectors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,440.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,220.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,895.77 |
| Weekly | $1,947.88 |
| Hourly | $48.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,750 | 860 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,130 | 2,380 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $112,550 | 210 |
| Vallejo, CA | $108,180 | 190 |
| Napa, CA | $106,410 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $103,980 | 1,060 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $102,060 | 140 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $101,340 | 130 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,830 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,280 | 3,870 |
| Yuba City, CA | $100,240 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $98,680 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,580 | 1,330 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $89,950 | 1,160 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $84,240 | 220 |
| Chico, CA | $83,480 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $80,850 | 280 |
| Modesto, CA | $80,660 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $80,320 | 120 |
| Visalia, CA | $77,680 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,480 | 290 |
| Redding, CA | $75,960 | 70 |
| El Centro, CA | $72,860 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for construction and building inspectors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $102,410 |
| California | $101,290 |
| Connecticut | $98,670 |
| Washington | $96,140 |
| Minnesota | $88,670 |
| District of Columbia | $86,200 |
| Oregon | $84,510 |
| Massachusetts | $83,200 |
| New Jersey | $81,760 |
| Colorado | $79,950 |
See Construction and Building Inspectors pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $59,580 | $28.64 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $56,120 | $26.98 |
| Fence Erector | $56,060 | $26.95 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $55,220 | $26.55 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $60,890 | $29.28 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $141,180 | $67.88 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $71,170 | $34.22 |
| Carpenter | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,270 | $28.98 |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $72,830 | $35.01 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,020 | $28.38 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $87,160 | $41.90 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-4011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction and building inspectors make in California?
The median salary for construction and building inspectors in California is $101,290 a year, or $48.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid construction and building inspectors make in California?
The top 10% of construction and building inspectors in California earn at least $161,550 a year. The top 25% earn $128,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for construction and building inspectors in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,220 a year, and a quarter of construction and building inspectors earn $76,160 or less.
How many construction and building inspectors work in California?
About 13,420 construction and building inspectors are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.