Transportation Inspector salary in California
Transportation Inspectors in California earn a median of $83,000 a year ($39.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,460 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $92,100. California ranks 20th of 44 states for transportation inspectors pay. There are 0.10 transportation inspectors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $88,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for transportation inspectors in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,790 | $19.61 |
| 25th percentile | $55,660 | $26.76 |
| Median | $83,000 | $39.90 |
| 75th percentile | $114,850 | $55.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,460 | $69.45 |
| Average (mean) | $88,500 | $42.55 |
Half of transportation 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 | $6,916.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,458.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,192.31 |
| Weekly | $1,596.15 |
| Hourly | $39.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Transportation Inspector salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $104,080 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,040 | 560 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,000 | 180 |
| Fresno, CA | $82,870 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $81,370 | 170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,370 | 210 |
| Vallejo, CA | $74,870 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $71,300 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for transportation inspectors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $123,120 |
| Iowa | $116,850 |
| Oklahoma | $111,070 |
| Hawaii | $108,270 |
| Alabama | $108,140 |
| North Dakota | $106,330 |
| Washington | $104,250 |
| Kansas | $103,380 |
| Florida | $101,470 |
| Texas | $101,440 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $41,770 | $20.08 |
| Passenger Attendant | $43,340 | $20.84 |
| Aircraft Service Attendant | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Transportation Workers, All Other | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| Traffic Technician | $79,110 | $38.03 |
| Bridge and Lock Tenders | $72,390 | $34.80 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,550 | $31.51 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-6051. 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 transportation inspector make in California?
The median salary for transportation inspectors in California is $83,000 a year, or $39.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid transportation inspectors make in California?
The top 10% of transportation inspectors in California earn at least $144,460 a year. The top 25% earn $114,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for transportation inspectors in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,790 a year, and a quarter of transportation inspectors earn $55,660 or less.
How many transportation inspectors work in California?
About 1,790 transportation inspectors are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.