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Permit specialist salary
Average permit specialist salary
$51,620
Understanding the Permit Specialist Salary
The average salary for a Permit Specialist is approximately $51,620 per year, translating to around $25 per hour. Salaries can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry.
Salary by State
In states such as California and New York, the compensation for Permit Specialists tends to be higher due to the demand for skilled professionals in urban areas. For instance, in California, the average salary can exceed $60,000, reflecting the state's robust construction industry.
Growth and Opportunities
Entry-level positions may start lower, but experienced Permit Specialists can command significantly higher salaries, especially when working in high-demand sectors such as construction management or urban planning. Networking and obtaining certifications can further enhance earning potential.
Conclusion
For those looking to pursue a career as a Permit Specialist, the combination of competitive salaries and job stability makes it a promising choice.
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Where can a Permit Specialist earn more?
Permit specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average permit specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for permit specialists are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The lowest average permit specialist salary states are Kentucky, Tennessee, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for permit specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $69,937 | $33.62 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $69,163 | $33.25 |
| 3 | New York | $67,229 | $32.32 |
| 4 | Delaware | $58,248 | $28.00 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $68,742 | $33.05 |
| 6 | Maryland | $60,386 | $29.03 |
| 7 | Washington | $59,810 | $28.75 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $52,332 | $25.16 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $60,718 | $29.19 |
| 10 | Maine | $57,614 | $27.70 |
| 11 | Ohio | $63,205 | $30.39 |
| 12 | Michigan | $60,168 | $28.93 |
| 13 | Virginia | $56,596 | $27.21 |
| 14 | Vermont | $55,217 | $26.55 |
| 15 | Illinois | $61,012 | $29.33 |
| 16 | Florida | $53,727 | $25.83 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $54,492 | $26.20 |
| 18 | Nevada | $55,771 | $26.81 |
| 19 | Arizona | $53,296 | $25.62 |
| 20 | Alaska | $55,857 | $26.85 |
| 21 | California | $57,997 | $27.88 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $53,466 | $25.70 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $53,164 | $25.56 |
| 24 | Colorado | $52,332 | $25.16 |
| 25 | Indiana | $52,571 | $25.27 |
| 26 | Oregon | $53,394 | $25.67 |
| 27 | Kansas | $52,038 | $25.02 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $51,869 | $24.94 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $54,355 | $26.13 |
| 30 | Iowa | $47,812 | $22.99 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $47,657 | $22.91 |
| 32 | Texas | $48,182 | $23.16 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $49,414 | $23.76 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $46,011 | $22.12 |
| 35 | Georgia | $49,004 | $23.56 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $44,177 | $21.24 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $43,149 | $20.74 |
| 38 | Utah | $44,603 | $21.44 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $45,217 | $21.74 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $47,140 | $22.66 |
| 41 | Montana | $45,612 | $21.93 |
| 42 | Idaho | $45,775 | $22.01 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $45,522 | $21.89 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $47,735 | $22.95 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $44,153 | $21.23 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $43,743 | $21.03 |
| 47 | Missouri | $45,764 | $22.00 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $44,132 | $21.22 |
| 49 | Alabama | $42,156 | $20.27 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $42,438 | $20.40 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $42,913 | $20.63 |
Highest paying cities for permit specialists
The highest-paying cities for permit specialists are Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, Boston, MA, and Oakland, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $68,700 | $33.03 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $60,661 | $29.16 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $60,633 | $29.15 |
| 4 | Tacoma, WA | $59,739 | $28.72 |
| 5 | Norfolk, VA | $56,560 | $27.19 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $55,605 | $26.73 |
| 7 | Anchorage, AK | $55,600 | $26.73 |
| 8 | Tallahassee, FL | $54,208 | $26.06 |
| 9 | Eugene, OR | $53,634 | $25.79 |
| 10 | Providence, RI | $53,394 | $25.67 |
| 11 | Baton Rouge, LA | $53,220 | $25.59 |
| 12 | Tucson, AZ | $52,878 | $25.42 |
| 13 | Greeley, CO | $52,505 | $25.24 |
| 14 | Kansas City, KS | $52,276 | $25.13 |
| 15 | Canton, GA | $49,356 | $23.73 |
| 16 | Midland, TX | $48,795 | $23.46 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,733 | $22.95 |
| 18 | Chesterfield, MO | $45,959 | $22.10 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $44,538 | $21.41 |
| 20 | Charlotte, NC | $44,188 | $21.24 |
Permit specialist salary details
A permit specialist's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $79,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a permit specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $51,620 | $4,302 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying permit specialist jobs
The highest paying types of permit specialists are principal consultant, business developer, and senior specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Developer | $101,635 | $8,470 | $48.86 | 193,469 |
| Operations Coordinator | $41,934 | $3,495 | $20.16 | 102,598 |
| Operations Internship | $33,357 | $2,780 | $16.04 | 111,994 |
| Principal Consultant | $116,478 | $9,706 | $56.00 | 143,753 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for permit specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Rowan University
Top companies hiring permit specialists now:
Which companies pay permit specialists the most?
Permit specialist salaries at Southern California Edison and Crown Castle International are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average permit specialist salary at companies like Garver, LLC and Jacobs Engineering Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern California Edison | $93,651 | $45.02 |
| 2 | Crown Castle International | $77,814 | $37.41 |
| 3 | Garver, LLC | $77,488 | $37.25 |
| 4 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $75,908 | $36.49 |
| 5 | Stantec | $73,106 | $35.15 |
| 6 | AECOM | $71,304 | $34.28 |
| 7 | Burns & McDonnell | $71,169 | $34.22 |
| 8 | Knight Piésold | $69,584 | $33.45 |
| 9 | Kimley-Horn | $69,345 | $33.34 |
| 10 | GEI Consultants | $68,973 | $33.16 |
| 11 | Enel X | $68,758 | $33.06 |
| 12 | Tetra Tech | $67,673 | $32.54 |
| 13 | Remington & Vernick Engineers | $67,538 | $32.47 |
| 14 | VHB | $67,499 | $32.45 |
| 15 | MasTec | $64,347 | $30.94 |
| 16 | Edison International | $62,927 | $30.25 |
| 17 | TRC Companies | $62,327 | $29.96 |
| 18 | Wsp USA Buildings Inc. | $60,782 | $29.22 |
| 19 | City of Tacoma | $60,591 | $29.13 |
| 20 | Clark County | $59,813 | $28.76 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Permit Specialist salary by industry
The average permit specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average permit specialist salary in the energy industry is $64,332, the highest of any industry.
- The average permit specialist salary in the finance industry is $57,321.
- Permit specialists in the government industry earn an average salary of $49,829, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for permit specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $64,332 | $30.93 |
| 2 | Professional | $57,321 | $27.56 |
| 3 | Construction | $55,634 | $26.75 |
| 4 | Telecommunication | $51,146 | $24.59 |
| 5 | Government | $49,829 | $23.96 |
High paying permit specialist jobs
Permit specialist salary trends
The average permit specialist salary has risen by $7,597 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average permit specialist earned $44,023 annually, but today, they earn $51,620 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for permit specialists over the last decade.
Compare permit specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average permit specialist salary over time
Compare permit specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Permit specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,600 | $24.82 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $49,700 | $23.87 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $48,500 | $23.31 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $48,100 | $23.14 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $47,500 | $22.82 | +1.3% |
Recently added permit specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erm | Consultant, Environmental Permitting Specialist, Ferc Generalist | Houston, TX | 06/30/2025 | $74,000 |
| Actalent | Permitting Specialist | Richmond, VA | 06/29/2025 | $45,914 |
| Erm | Consulting Director, Permitting Specialist | Boston, MA | 06/28/2025 | $147,670 |
| SRI Telecom | Pole Permit Specialist-OSP Construction | Downingtown, PA | 06/28/2025 | $65,511 |
| Seattle.gov Home | Traffic Permit Specialist (Administrative Specialist III-BU) | Seattle, WA | 06/27/2025 | $76,969 |
| Constellation Energy Corp | Workload Planning Permit Specialist | Baltimore, MD | 06/25/2025 | $73,800 |
| City of Seattle, Wa | Traffic Permit Specialist (Administrative Specialist III-BU) | Seattle, WA | 06/25/2025 | $76,969 |
| Hayden Homes LLC | Permitting Specialist | Redmond, OR | 06/23/2025 | $50,000 |
| City of Atlanta | Tax & Permit Specialist II | Atlanta, GA | 06/23/2025 | $39,215 |
| Erm | Consultant, Environmental Permitting Specialist, Ferc Generalist | New Orleans, LA | 06/20/2025 | $74,000 |
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