Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a public works inspector
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like public works inspectors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for public works inspectors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that New York is the best state in the country for public works inspectors.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for public works inspectors. New York is the best state for public works inspectors, where the median salary is $70,977.If you are currently seeking employment as a public works inspector, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for public works inspectors in 2025
1. New York
Total public works inspector jobs: 492 Average annual salary: $70,977 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
2. California
Total public works inspector jobs: 1,385 Average annual salary: $64,535 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
3. Pennsylvania
Total public works inspector jobs: 417 Average annual salary: $59,868 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
4. Virginia
Total public works inspector jobs: 410 Average annual salary: $56,331 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
5. New Jersey
Total public works inspector jobs: 222 Average annual salary: $71,251 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
6. Maine
Total public works inspector jobs: 63 Average annual salary: $51,507 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
7. Arizona
Total public works inspector jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $55,597 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
8. North Carolina
Total public works inspector jobs: 365 Average annual salary: $49,735 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
9. Illinois
Total public works inspector jobs: 314 Average annual salary: $59,001 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
10. Indiana
Total public works inspector jobs: 233 Average annual salary: $49,687 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
Public works inspector jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a public works inspector
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a public works inspector
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $70,977 | $38,000 | 19,849,399 | 492 |
| 2 | California | $64,535 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,385 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $59,868 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 417 |
| 4 | Virginia | $56,331 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 410 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $71,251 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 222 |
| 6 | Maine | $51,507 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 63 |
| 7 | Arizona | $55,597 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 209 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $49,735 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 365 |
| 9 | Illinois | $59,001 | $35,000 | 12,802,023 | 314 |
| 10 | Indiana | $49,687 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 233 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $51,603 | $31,000 | 5,795,483 | 170 |
| 12 | Iowa | $56,092 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 75 |
| 13 | Michigan | $48,711 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 252 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $50,574 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 216 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $54,532 | $35,000 | 755,393 | 22 |
| 16 | Kansas | $53,890 | $32,000 | 2,913,123 | 74 |
| 17 | Oregon | $50,759 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 115 |
| 18 | Alabama | $46,482 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 140 |
| 19 | Texas | $45,242 | $26,000 | 28,304,596 | 713 |
| 20 | Idaho | $46,429 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 52 |
| 21 | Washington | $49,189 | $27,000 | 7,405,743 | 204 |
| 22 | Florida | $42,536 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 713 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $46,323 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 56 |
| 24 | Georgia | $40,899 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 512 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $44,213 | $26,000 | 579,315 | 19 |
| 26 | Alaska | $46,839 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 23 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $41,689 | $22,000 | 3,588,184 | 128 |
| 28 | Nevada | $40,175 | $22,000 | 2,998,039 | 88 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $41,159 | $23,000 | 693,972 | 130 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $40,806 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 191 |
| 31 | Maryland | $41,462 | $23,000 | 6,052,177 | 232 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $38,420 | $21,000 | 1,342,795 | 72 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $40,715 | $22,000 | 1,059,639 | 42 |
| 34 | Vermont | $36,987 | $20,000 | 623,657 | 43 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $39,709 | $21,000 | 6,859,819 | 328 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $41,091 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 86 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $40,778 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 71 |
| 38 | Delaware | $42,167 | $23,000 | 961,939 | 32 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $37,462 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 45 |
| 40 | Ohio | $37,468 | $21,000 | 11,658,609 | 317 |
| 41 | Montana | $32,020 | $19,000 | 1,050,493 | 60 |
| 42 | Colorado | $31,871 | $19,000 | 5,607,154 | 294 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $32,841 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 168 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $33,097 | $19,000 | 2,984,100 | 79 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $33,757 | $19,000 | 4,454,189 | 115 |
| 46 | Utah | $32,948 | $18,000 | 3,101,833 | 104 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $34,666 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 86 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $35,451 | $25,000 | 1,427,538 | 20 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $32,789 | $20,000 | 869,666 | 27 |
| 50 | Missouri | $32,401 | $19,000 | 6,113,532 | 150 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $32,228 | $19,000 | 1,920,076 | 52 |
Highest paying states for public works inspectors
| Rank | State | Avg. Public Works Inspector Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $70,977 |
| 2 | California | $64,535 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $59,868 |
| 4 | Virginia | $56,331 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $71,251 |
| 6 | Maine | $51,507 |
| 7 | Arizona | $55,597 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $49,735 |
| 9 | Illinois | $59,001 |
| 10 | Indiana | $49,687 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $51,603 |
| 12 | Iowa | $56,092 |
| 13 | Michigan | $48,711 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $50,574 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $54,532 |
| 16 | Kansas | $53,890 |
| 17 | Oregon | $50,759 |
| 18 | Alabama | $46,482 |
| 19 | Texas | $45,242 |
| 20 | Idaho | $46,429 |
| 21 | Washington | $49,189 |
| 22 | Florida | $42,536 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $46,323 |
| 24 | Georgia | $40,899 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $44,213 |
| 26 | Alaska | $46,839 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $41,689 |
| 28 | Nevada | $40,175 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $41,159 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $40,806 |
| 31 | Maryland | $41,462 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $38,420 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $40,715 |
| 34 | Vermont | $36,987 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $39,709 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $41,091 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $40,778 |
| 38 | Delaware | $42,167 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $37,462 |
| 40 | Ohio | $37,468 |
| 41 | Montana | $32,020 |
| 42 | Colorado | $31,871 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $32,841 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $33,097 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $33,757 |
| 46 | Utah | $32,948 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $34,666 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $35,451 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $32,789 |
| 50 | Missouri | $32,401 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $32,228 |
Public works inspector best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
Search for public works inspector jobs
Updated January 8, 2025