Construction and Building Inspectors salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Construction and Building Inspectors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $82,640 a year ($39.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,210 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $74,690. Pay here is 5% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $78,340. There are 0.41 construction and building inspectors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $84,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for construction and building inspectors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| 25th percentile | $62,040 | $29.83 |
| Median | $82,640 | $39.73 |
| 75th percentile | $105,130 | $50.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,210 | $61.16 |
| Average (mean) | $84,690 | $40.72 |
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 | $6,886.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,443.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,178.46 |
| Weekly | $1,589.23 |
| Hourly | $39.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $82,640 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $79,250 | 50 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $78,360 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $76,440 | 630 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $73,440 | 110 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $73,350 | 70 |
| Rockford, IL | $72,330 | 50 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $68,090 | 50 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $67,680 | 120 |
| Bloomington, IN | $67,220 | 90 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $63,840 | 870 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $63,650 | 950 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $63,600 | 380 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $62,530 | 70 |
| Peoria, IL | $62,350 | 50 |
| Evansville, IN | $60,000 | 80 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $59,910 | 30 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $59,870 | 70 |
| Springfield, IL | $56,610 | 60 |
| Muncie, IN | $48,830 | 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 or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $76,220 | $36.64 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $61,330 | $29.49 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $146,580 | $70.47 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $52,210 | $25.10 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $50,650 | $24.35 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| Electrician | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Carpenter | $80,440 | $38.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $111,260 | $53.49 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $103,100 | $49.57 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Roofer | $82,090 | $39.47 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for construction and building inspectors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $82,640 a year, or $39.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid construction and building inspectors make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of construction and building inspectors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $127,210 a year. The top 25% earn $105,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for construction and building inspectors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,310 a year, and a quarter of construction and building inspectors earn $62,040 or less.
How many construction and building inspectors work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,840 construction and building inspectors are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.