Best states for a health and safety inspector

Q: What is the best state for health and safety inspectors?

The best state to be a health and safety inspector is Michigan based on health and safety inspector salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for health and safety inspectors?

The highest paying state for health and safety inspectors is Georgia based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for health and safety inspectors?

The worst state for health and safety inspectors is South Carolina, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Alfred Lujan

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Are you thinking of becoming a health and safety inspector and really want to work at Mine Safety and Health Administration? Turns out, your chances to become a health and safety inspector are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for health and safety inspectors. We found that Michigan is the best state in the nation for health and safety inspectors, and people in Juneau earn the most in the field.

The median salary for health and safety inspectors in Michigan is $53,866. Compare that to the median salary in South Carolina of $35,007, which ranked worst for health and safety inspectors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Michigan is the best state for health and safety inspector jobs, whereas South Carolina is the worst.

10 best states for health and safety inspectors in 2025

1. Michigan
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 1,482
Average annual salary: $53,866
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Location Quotient:
1.47
Health and safety inspector jobs in Michigan
2. Vermont
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 154
Average annual salary: $51,155
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Location Quotient:
1.54
Health and safety inspector jobs in Vermont
3. New Hampshire
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 233
Average annual salary: $57,334
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Health and safety inspector jobs in New Hampshire
4. Rhode Island
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 144
Average annual salary: $57,889
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Health and safety inspector jobs in Rhode Island
5. Delaware
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 138
Average annual salary: $59,990
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Location Quotient:
0.85
Health and safety inspector jobs in Delaware
6. Virginia
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 1,359
Average annual salary: $54,884
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Health and safety inspector jobs in Virginia
7. Idaho
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 287
Average annual salary: $51,552
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Health and safety inspector jobs in Idaho
8. Connecticut
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 192
Average annual salary: $61,527
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000
Location Quotient:
0.44
Health and safety inspector jobs in Connecticut
9. Washington
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 1,207
Average annual salary: $52,886
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Health and safety inspector jobs in Washington
10. District of Columbia
Total health and safety inspector jobs: 208
Average annual salary: $61,760
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Health and safety inspector jobs in District of Columbia

Health and safety inspector jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a health and safety inspector

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a health and safety inspector

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Michigan	$53,866	$34,000	9,962,311	1,482
2	Vermont	$51,155	$35,000	623,657	154
3	New Hampshire	$57,334	$39,000	1,342,795	233
4	Rhode Island	$57,889	$38,000	1,059,639	144
5	Delaware	$59,990	$38,000	961,939	138
6	Virginia	$54,884	$34,000	8,470,020	1,359
7	Idaho	$51,552	$33,000	1,716,943	287
8	Connecticut	$61,527	$40,000	3,588,184	192
9	Washington	$52,886	$34,000	7,405,743	1,207
10	District of Columbia	$61,760	$38,000	693,972	208
11	Maryland	$56,667	$35,000	6,052,177	876
12	North Dakota	$51,346	$34,000	755,393	132
13	Alaska	$65,838	$53,000	739,795	39
14	Ohio	$46,105	$29,000	11,658,609	1,801
15	Pennsylvania	$53,591	$34,000	12,805,537	694
16	Nevada	$51,245	$32,000	2,998,039	280
17	New York	$56,131	$36,000	19,849,399	710
18	West Virginia	$53,258	$33,000	1,815,857	75
19	South Dakota	$49,847	$33,000	869,666	124
20	Minnesota	$47,515	$31,000	5,576,606	1,093
21	New Jersey	$54,567	$35,000	9,005,644	393
22	Wisconsin	$46,520	$30,000	5,795,483	828
23	Maine	$48,905	$34,000	1,335,907	103
24	Oregon	$52,262	$34,000	4,142,776	182
25	North Carolina	$43,725	$28,000	10,273,419	1,730
26	Indiana	$41,997	$27,000	6,666,818	1,299
27	Montana	$48,861	$32,000	1,050,493	75
28	Massachusetts	$50,103	$33,000	6,859,819	519
29	Mississippi	$42,517	$29,000	2,984,100	316
30	Iowa	$43,067	$28,000	3,145,711	538
31	California	$45,516	$28,000	39,536,653	4,349
32	Utah	$45,012	$29,000	3,101,833	358
33	Arizona	$41,963	$27,000	7,016,270	895
34	New Mexico	$45,387	$30,000	2,088,070	105
35	Oklahoma	$38,183	$26,000	3,930,864	466
36	Colorado	$43,066	$29,000	5,607,154	750
37	Wyoming	$40,740	$27,000	579,315	81
38	Kentucky	$37,005	$24,000	4,454,189	606
39	Florida	$36,843	$25,000	20,984,400	2,826
40	Tennessee	$35,509	$24,000	6,715,984	1,056
41	Missouri	$38,302	$25,000	6,113,532	930
42	Nebraska	$40,150	$27,000	1,920,076	289
43	Illinois	$45,181	$29,000	12,802,023	500
44	Alabama	$34,745	$24,000	4,874,747	707
45	Louisiana	$36,891	$25,000	4,684,333	460
46	Arkansas	$34,260	$23,000	3,004,279	416
47	Georgia	$33,081	$22,000	10,429,379	1,802
48	Hawaii	$34,475	$26,000	1,427,538	121
49	Kansas	$33,172	$22,000	2,913,123	398
50	Texas	$33,855	$23,000	28,304,596	2,580
51	South Carolina	$35,007	$23,000	5,024,369	273

Highest paying states for health and safety inspectors

Rank	State	Avg. Health And Safety Inspector Salary
1	Michigan	$53,866
2	Vermont	$51,155
3	New Hampshire	$57,334
4	Rhode Island	$57,889
5	Delaware	$59,990
6	Virginia	$54,884
7	Idaho	$51,552
8	Connecticut	$61,527
9	Washington	$52,886
10	District of Columbia	$61,760
11	Maryland	$56,667
12	North Dakota	$51,346
13	Alaska	$65,838
14	Ohio	$46,105
15	Pennsylvania	$53,591
16	Nevada	$51,245
17	New York	$56,131
18	West Virginia	$53,258
19	South Dakota	$49,847
20	Minnesota	$47,515
21	New Jersey	$54,567
22	Wisconsin	$46,520
23	Maine	$48,905
24	Oregon	$52,262
25	North Carolina	$43,725
26	Indiana	$41,997
27	Montana	$48,861
28	Massachusetts	$50,103
29	Mississippi	$42,517
30	Iowa	$43,067
31	California	$45,516
32	Utah	$45,012
33	Arizona	$41,963
34	New Mexico	$45,387
35	Oklahoma	$38,183
36	Colorado	$43,066
37	Wyoming	$40,740
38	Kentucky	$37,005
39	Florida	$36,843
40	Tennessee	$35,509
41	Missouri	$38,302
42	Nebraska	$40,150
43	Illinois	$45,181
44	Alabama	$34,745
45	Louisiana	$36,891
46	Arkansas	$34,260
47	Georgia	$33,081
48	Hawaii	$34,475
49	Kansas	$33,172
50	Texas	$33,855
51	South Carolina	$35,007

Expert opinions on the best states for health and safety inspectors

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for health and safety inspectors to find work opportunities?
Alfred Lujan
Assistant Professor, NMSU/Dona Ana Community College
No, most municipalities and counties in the US have fire departments, and personnel is frequently hired due to regular attrition. Pay varies, however, depending on the area.

Health and safety inspector best states FAQs

What is the best state for health and safety inspectors?

What is the highest paying state for health and safety inspectors?

What is the worst state for health and safety inspectors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Health And Safety Inspector
Best states for Health And Safety Inspectors

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total health and safety inspector jobs:	1,482
Average annual salary:	$53,866
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$34,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$83,000
Location Quotient:	1.47

Best states for a health and safety inspector

10 best states for health and safety inspectors in 2025

1. Michigan

2. Vermont

3. New Hampshire

4. Rhode Island

5. Delaware

6. Virginia

7. Idaho

8. Connecticut

9. Washington

10. District of Columbia