Construction and Building Inspectors pay in California
$103,850avg. a year
$49.93 an hour · 13,420 employed
Construction and Building Inspectors in California earn an average of $103,850 a year. That is $26,120 (34%) more than the U.S. average of $77,730. The best-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $124,420.
$101,290Median pay
$49.93Average hourly
+13%Avg. pay since 2020
#1Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for construction and building inspectors by metro area. Swipe to see all 23.
1860 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$124,420
$59.82 an hour
22,380 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$123,300
$59.28 an hour
3210 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$116,130
$55.83 an hour
4140 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$110,080
$52.92 an hour
5190 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$106,740
$51.32 an hour
61,060 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$104,680
$50.33 an hour
790 jobs
Salinas, CA
$104,660
$50.32 an hour
850 jobs
Napa, CA
$102,640
$49.35 an hour
93,870 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$99,710
$47.94 an hour
10130 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$99,640
$47.91 an hour
111,330 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$99,240
$47.71 an hour
1240 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$98,360
$47.29 an hour
1350 jobs
Chico, CA
$93,240
$44.83 an hour
1460 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$91,890
$44.18 an hour
151,160 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$91,670
$44.07 an hour
16120 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$91,210
$43.85 an hour
17280 jobs
Fresno, CA
$90,140
$43.34 an hour
18220 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$89,850
$43.20 an hour
19120 jobs
Modesto, CA
$85,050
$40.89 an hour
20290 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$82,820
$39.82 an hour
21110 jobs
Visalia, CA
$82,590
$39.71 an hour
2270 jobs
Redding, CA
$81,500
$39.18 an hour
2340 jobs
El Centro, CA
$78,480
$37.73 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Construction and Building Inspectors pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California construction and building inspectors work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $68k$68k–$72k$72k–$80k$80k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $77,730 | $37.37 |
| California | $103,850 | $49.93 |
| Oregon | $87,080 | $41.86 |
| Arizona | $78,380 | $37.69 |
| Nevada | $78,320 | $37.65 |
Related jobs in California
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do construction and building inspectors make in California?
The average is $103,850 a year, and the median is $101,290. That is $26,120 (34%) more than the U.S. average of $77,730.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$49.93 an hour on average; the median is $48.70.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,420), followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($123,300). The lowest average among 23 metro areas with data is El Centro, CA ($78,480).
How does California rank?
California ranks #1 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 47-4011. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national construction and building inspectors page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.