Transportation Inspector salary in Columbia, SC
Transportation Inspectors in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $115,210 a year ($55.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,430 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $92,100. Pay here is 43% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $80,490. There are 0.10 transportation inspectors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $109,680, close to the median.
Pay range for transportation inspectors in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| 25th percentile | $88,610 | $42.60 |
| Median | $115,210 | $55.39 |
| 75th percentile | $133,470 | $64.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,430 | $71.84 |
| Average (mean) | $109,680 | $52.73 |
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 | $9,600.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,800.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,431.15 |
| Weekly | $2,215.58 |
| Hourly | $55.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Transportation Inspector salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $85,650 | 120 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $81,550 | 60 |
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 |
See Transportation Inspector pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Traffic Technician | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,280 | $24.65 |
| Light Truck Driver | $37,600 | $18.08 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,500 | $20.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,860 | $30.22 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $22,900 | $11.01 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $34,800 | $16.73 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for transportation inspectors in the Columbia, SC metro area is $115,210 a year, or $55.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid transportation inspectors make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of transportation inspectors in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $149,430 a year. The top 25% earn $133,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for transportation inspectors in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,940 a year, and a quarter of transportation inspectors earn $88,610 or less.
How many transportation inspectors work in Columbia, SC?
About 40 transportation inspectors are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.