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Building official salary
Average building official salary
$46,398
Building Official Salary Overview
The average salary for a Building Official is approximately $46,398 per year or $22 per hour. This position is vital in overseeing construction projects, ensuring that they meet local and national building codes. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and specific roles within the industry.
Salary by State
Building Officials in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for regulatory compliance. For example, California’s average salary for this position is significantly above the national average, reflecting the state's robust construction market.
Experience Matters
Entry-level Building Officials can expect to start at lower salaries, but with experience, earnings can increase substantially. Those with extensive experience or specialized certifications may command salaries exceeding $60,000 annually.
Job Prospects
As the construction industry continues to grow, the demand for qualified Building Officials is on the rise. This role offers opportunities for advancement into management positions or specialized areas, making it a promising career choice for individuals interested in the field.
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Where can a Building Official earn more?
Building official salaries by experience level
Building official salary estimates from across the web
Average building official salary by state
The average building official salary in New Jersey, Delaware, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average building official salary states are Georgia, Utah, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for building officials
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $62,928 | $30.25 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $56,415 | $27.12 |
| 3 | California | $59,176 | $28.45 |
| 4 | Maryland | $54,925 | $26.41 |
| 5 | Vermont | $51,147 | $24.59 |
| 6 | Delaware | $60,188 | $28.94 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $56,356 | $27.09 |
| 8 | Alaska | $50,744 | $24.40 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $43,557 | $20.94 |
| 10 | Nevada | $44,449 | $21.37 |
| 11 | Michigan | $48,286 | $23.21 |
| 12 | New York | $50,362 | $24.21 |
| 13 | Maine | $53,808 | $25.87 |
| 14 | Arizona | $43,528 | $20.93 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $42,112 | $20.25 |
| 16 | Virginia | $43,774 | $21.05 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $50,723 | $24.39 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $43,773 | $21.04 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $43,944 | $21.13 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $42,741 | $20.55 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $41,820 | $20.11 |
| 22 | Ohio | $39,211 | $18.85 |
| 23 | Illinois | $45,633 | $21.94 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $40,138 | $19.30 |
| 25 | Montana | $42,522 | $20.44 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $40,168 | $19.31 |
| 27 | Iowa | $40,659 | $19.55 |
| 28 | Florida | $36,271 | $17.44 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $32,826 | $15.78 |
| 30 | Washington | $37,373 | $17.97 |
| 31 | Kansas | $37,393 | $17.98 |
| 32 | Texas | $32,622 | $15.68 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $34,769 | $16.72 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $41,520 | $19.96 |
| 35 | Missouri | $34,588 | $16.63 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $35,815 | $17.22 |
| 37 | Indiana | $33,862 | $16.28 |
| 38 | Colorado | $31,034 | $14.92 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $33,514 | $16.11 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| 41 | Oregon | $32,534 | $15.64 |
| 42 | Alabama | $34,643 | $16.66 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $33,106 | $15.92 |
| 44 | Utah | $28,683 | $13.79 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $31,021 | $14.91 |
| 46 | Georgia | $29,782 | $14.32 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $30,301 | $14.57 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $26,232 | $12.61 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $27,928 | $13.43 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $28,197 | $13.56 |
| 51 | Idaho | $24,835 | $11.94 |
Highest paying cities for building officials
The highest-paying cities for building officials are Riverside, CA, Hartford, CT, and McHenry, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside, CA | $59,564 | $28.64 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $55,375 | $26.62 |
| 3 | McHenry, IL | $45,756 | $22.00 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $43,854 | $21.08 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $38,432 | $18.48 |
| 6 | Burien, WA | $37,507 | $18.03 |
| 7 | Sarasota, FL | $37,095 | $17.83 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $34,435 | $16.56 |
| 9 | Corvallis, OR | $32,805 | $15.77 |
| 10 | Statesboro, GA | $29,867 | $14.36 |
Building official salary details
A building official's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $89,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a building official's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $46,398 | $3,867 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying building official jobs
The highest paying types of building officials are construction analyst, building code administrator, and project inspector.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Inspector | $51,264 | $4,272 | $24.65 | 55,491 |
| Plans Examiner | $59,697 | $4,975 | $28.70 | 4,018 |
| Construction Inspector | $52,306 | $4,359 | $25.15 | 42,007 |
| Electrical Inspector | $43,943 | $3,662 | $21.13 | 42,321 |
| Engineering Construction Inspector | $51,630 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 95,430 |
| Utility Inspector | $43,725 | $3,644 | $21.02 | 23,106 |
Top companies hiring building officials now:
Which companies pay building officials the most?
Building official salaries at University of California and CSG are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average building official salary at companies like Lincoln Holdings LLC and Lakeland Electric are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California | $75,422 | $36.26 |
| 2 | CSG | $71,112 | $34.19 |
| 3 | Lincoln Holdings LLC | $47,222 | $22.70 |
| 4 | Lakeland Electric | $47,074 | $22.63 |
| 5 | Minnesota Limited | $45,740 | $21.99 |
| 6 | City of Visalia | $39,828 | $19.15 |
| 7 | SAFEbuilt | $34,539 | $16.61 |
| 8 | City of Colleyville | $30,371 | $14.60 |
| 9 | City of Corvallis | $28,938 | $13.91 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Building official salary trends
The average building official salary has risen by $7,145 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average building official earned $39,253 annually, but today, they earn $46,398 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for building officials over the last decade.
Compare building official salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average building official salary over time
Compare building official salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Building official salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,400 | $22.31 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $44,800 | $21.54 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $44,100 | $21.19 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $43,600 | $20.97 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $43,200 | $20.75 | +1.9% |
Recently added building official salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effingham County Board of Commissioners | Building Official | Springfield, GA | 06/27/2025 | $81,310 |
| Clallam County | Building Official | Port Angeles, WA | 05/23/2025 | $81,895 |
| Safebuilt | Building Official | Rochester, MN | 04/23/2025 | $85,000 |
| Williams County | Building Official | Williston, ND | 03/29/2025 | $98,319 |
| Meridian Company | Township Building Official | Bowne, MI | 02/19/2025 | $73,817 |
| Cities, Inc. | Building Official | Greenacres, FL | 02/19/2025 | $126 |
| Monroetownshipnj | Job Posting: Building Subcode Official: & | Williamstown, NJ | 02/18/2025 | $51,695 |
| Bureauveritas | Building Official-Cap Government (South Florida) | Noma, FL | 02/17/2025 | $43,827 |
| Planning and Development Services of Kenton County | Building Official (Hvac Specialist) | Kentucky | 02/17/2025 | $45,914 |
| York County, Sc | Building Official | York, SC | 02/11/2025 | $75,436 |
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