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Best states for an inspector
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for inspectors? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for inspector jobs.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for inspectors. We found that Louisiana is the best state in the nation for inspectors, and people in Lake Charles earn the most in the field.
In order to get you the best states for inspectors, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as an inspector, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for inspectors in 2025
1. Louisiana
Total inspector jobs: 75 Average annual salary: $54,663 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
2. Montana
Total inspector jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $42,001 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
3. Nevada
Total inspector jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $42,528 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
4. Arizona
Total inspector jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $44,272 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
5. Maryland
Total inspector jobs: 182 Average annual salary: $47,265 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1
6. New York
Total inspector jobs: 389 Average annual salary: $46,224 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
7. New Mexico
Total inspector jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $41,862 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
8. Washington
Total inspector jobs: 149 Average annual salary: $46,187 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
9. South Dakota
Total inspector jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $40,280 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Texas
Total inspector jobs: 571 Average annual salary: $40,823 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
Inspector jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an inspector
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an inspector
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | $54,663 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 75 |
| 2 | Montana | $42,001 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 50 |
| 3 | Nevada | $42,528 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 73 |
| 4 | Arizona | $44,272 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 165 |
| 5 | Maryland | $47,265 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 182 |
| 6 | New York | $46,224 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 389 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $41,862 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 54 |
| 8 | Washington | $46,187 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 149 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $40,280 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 29 |
| 10 | Texas | $40,823 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 571 |
| 11 | Oregon | $46,623 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 72 |
| 12 | Colorado | $41,337 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 224 |
| 13 | California | $45,492 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 839 |
| 14 | Virginia | $42,654 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 284 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $43,881 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 255 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $40,158 | $23,000 | 1,342,795 | 76 |
| 17 | Alaska | $47,022 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 13 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $40,248 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 22 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $43,252 | $26,000 | 3,588,184 | 93 |
| 20 | Ohio | $37,649 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 336 |
| 21 | Maine | $38,950 | $22,000 | 1,335,907 | 64 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $38,643 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 377 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $42,449 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 24 |
| 24 | Vermont | $38,974 | $23,000 | 623,657 | 31 |
| 25 | Florida | $38,631 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 543 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $36,569 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 84 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $43,266 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 167 |
| 28 | Kansas | $38,160 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 65 |
| 29 | Utah | $38,163 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 77 |
| 30 | Missouri | $38,266 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 143 |
| 31 | Iowa | $37,876 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 70 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $38,568 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 174 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $35,985 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 40 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $37,289 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 12 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $37,463 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 56 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $35,453 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 158 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $43,058 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 17 |
| 38 | Georgia | $35,430 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 400 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $35,197 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 118 |
| 40 | Indiana | $34,595 | $25,000 | 6,666,818 | 245 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $36,862 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 47 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $41,459 | $27,000 | 693,972 | 31 |
| 43 | Delaware | $38,886 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 23 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $35,159 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 53 |
| 45 | Idaho | $34,366 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 52 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $33,628 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 179 |
| 47 | Wisconsin | $35,299 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 119 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $33,529 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 288 |
| 49 | Michigan | $33,121 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 222 |
| 50 | Alabama | $32,566 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 110 |
| 51 | Illinois | $33,656 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 235 |
Highest paying states for inspectors
| Rank | State | Avg. Inspector Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | $54,663 |
| 2 | Montana | $42,001 |
| 3 | Nevada | $42,528 |
| 4 | Arizona | $44,272 |
| 5 | Maryland | $47,265 |
| 6 | New York | $46,224 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $41,862 |
| 8 | Washington | $46,187 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $40,280 |
| 10 | Texas | $40,823 |
| 11 | Oregon | $46,623 |
| 12 | Colorado | $41,337 |
| 13 | California | $45,492 |
| 14 | Virginia | $42,654 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $43,881 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $40,158 |
| 17 | Alaska | $47,022 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $40,248 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $43,252 |
| 20 | Ohio | $37,649 |
| 21 | Maine | $38,950 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $38,643 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $42,449 |
| 24 | Vermont | $38,974 |
| 25 | Florida | $38,631 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $36,569 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $43,266 |
| 28 | Kansas | $38,160 |
| 29 | Utah | $38,163 |
| 30 | Missouri | $38,266 |
| 31 | Iowa | $37,876 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $38,568 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $35,985 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $37,289 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $37,463 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $35,453 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $43,058 |
| 38 | Georgia | $35,430 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $35,197 |
| 40 | Indiana | $34,595 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $36,862 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $41,459 |
| 43 | Delaware | $38,886 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $35,159 |
| 45 | Idaho | $34,366 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $33,628 |
| 47 | Wisconsin | $35,299 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $33,529 |
| 49 | Michigan | $33,121 |
| 50 | Alabama | $32,566 |
| 51 | Illinois | $33,656 |
Inspector best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025