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As of October 2025, the average salary for a housing inspector stands at $47,599 annually or about $23 per hour. However, this figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and industry demand. For instance, housing inspectors in states like California and New York often earn higher wages due to the cost of living and active real estate markets.
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level inspectors may earn around $35,000, while those with several years in the field can see salaries rise to $60,000 or more. Specialized certifications can also enhance earning potential.
The demand for housing inspectors is expected to grow as property regulations become more stringent. This field not only offers competitive salaries but also a chance to contribute to community safety and housing quality.
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The average housing inspector salary in California, New Jersey, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average housing inspector salary states are Utah, Nebraska, and Indiana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $77,461 | $37.24 |
| 2 | Nevada | $55,857 | $26.85 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $57,611 | $27.70 |
| 4 | Maine | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| 5 | Montana | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $48,758 | $23.44 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $61,541 | $29.59 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $47,417 | $22.80 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $52,445 | $25.21 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $54,788 | $26.34 |
| 11 | Delaware | $59,202 | $28.46 |
| 12 | New York | $51,369 | $24.70 |
| 13 | Vermont | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $51,711 | $24.86 |
| 15 | Florida | $48,702 | $23.41 |
| 16 | Washington | $50,993 | $24.52 |
| 17 | Arizona | $47,231 | $22.71 |
| 18 | Michigan | $47,593 | $22.88 |
| 19 | Arkansas | $48,818 | $23.47 |
| 20 | Kansas | $48,256 | $23.20 |
| 21 | Colorado | $46,705 | $22.45 |
| 22 | Oregon | $51,456 | $24.74 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| 24 | Alabama | $46,618 | $22.41 |
| 25 | Virginia | $46,617 | $22.41 |
| 26 | Maryland | $47,408 | $22.79 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $43,899 | $21.11 |
| 28 | Texas | $44,425 | $21.36 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $45,055 | $21.66 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $45,169 | $21.72 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $42,584 | $20.47 |
| 32 | Ohio | $41,789 | $20.09 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $43,015 | $20.68 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $41,922 | $20.15 |
| 35 | Iowa | $44,727 | $21.50 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $42,154 | $20.27 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $43,462 | $20.90 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $43,524 | $20.93 |
| 39 | Georgia | $38,942 | $18.72 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | $42,488 | $20.43 |
| 41 | Missouri | $42,415 | $20.39 |
| 42 | Illinois | $42,816 | $20.58 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $44,072 | $21.19 |
| 44 | Indiana | $35,415 | $17.03 |
| 45 | Utah | $38,818 | $18.66 |
| 46 | Idaho | $34,659 | $16.66 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $39,940 | $19.20 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $32,041 | $15.40 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $34,483 | $16.58 |
| 51 | Alaska | $40,476 | $19.46 |
The highest-paying cities for housing inspectors are Los Angeles, CA, Hackensack, NJ, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,752 | $37.38 |
| 2 | Hackensack, NJ | $61,144 | $29.40 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $57,281 | $27.54 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $51,784 | $24.90 |
| 5 | Yakima, WA | $51,074 | $24.55 |
| 6 | Delray Beach, FL | $49,172 | $23.64 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $48,014 | $23.08 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,761 | $22.96 |
| 9 | Lawrence, KS | $47,521 | $22.85 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| 11 | Laredo, TX | $45,808 | $22.02 |
| 12 | Charlottesville, VA | $45,286 | $21.77 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $43,078 | $20.71 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $42,565 | $20.46 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $41,617 | $20.01 |
A housing inspector's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $47,599 | $3,967 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of housing inspectors are construction analyst, building code administrator, and project inspector.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plans Examiner | $59,697 | $4,975 | $28.70 | 4,018 |
| Construction Analyst | $78,452 | $6,538 | $37.72 | 36,179 |
| Engineering Construction Inspector | $51,630 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 95,430 |
| Electrical Inspector | $43,943 | $3,662 | $21.13 | 42,321 |
| Residential Building Inspector | $48,597 | $4,050 | $23.36 | 28,745 |
| Utility Inspector | $43,725 | $3,644 | $21.02 | 23,106 |
Top companies hiring housing inspectors now:
Housing inspector salaries at City of Detroit and City of Los Angeles are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average housing inspector salary at companies like New York State Restaurant Association and OIC of Washington are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Detroit | $66,260 | $31.86 |
| 2 | City of Los Angeles | $65,326 | $31.41 |
| 3 | New York State Restaurant Association | $55,032 | $26.46 |
| 4 | OIC of Washington | $49,722 | $23.90 |
| 5 | The University of Kansas Health System | $49,034 | $23.57 |
| 6 | Vanguard Emergency Management | $48,186 | $23.17 |
| 7 | Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania | $47,972 | $23.06 |
| 8 | JEFFERSON FRANKLIN COMMUNITY ACTION | $47,252 | $22.72 |
| 9 | City of Collinsville | $46,807 | $22.50 |
| 10 | Americorps | $46,278 | $22.25 |
| 11 | City of Laredo | $45,852 | $22.04 |
| 12 | City of Ann Arbor | $45,318 | $21.79 |
| 13 | SAFEbuilt | $45,258 | $21.76 |
| 14 | System One | $44,075 | $21.19 |
| 15 | Vanguard Services | $42,542 | $20.45 |
| 16 | Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York | $42,326 | $20.35 |
| 17 | Chautauqua Opportunities | $39,174 | $18.83 |
The average housing inspector salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $52,492 | $25.24 |
| 2 | Government | $49,695 | $23.89 |
| 3 | Finance | $46,956 | $22.57 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $45,042 | $21.65 |
The average housing inspector salary has risen by $7,330 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average housing inspector earned $40,269 annually, but today, they earn $47,599 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for housing inspectors over the last decade.
Compare housing inspector salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare housing inspector salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,600 | $22.88 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $46,000 | $22.10 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $45,200 | $21.73 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $44,700 | $21.51 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $44,300 | $21.29 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | Housing Inspector-Internal Only | Aurora, CO | 06/27/2025 | $55,306 |
| Aurora Housing Authority | Housing Inspector-Internal Only | Aurora, CO | 06/27/2025 | $55,306 |
| City of Baltimore, Md | Housing Inspector Senior-Department of Housing & Community Development | Baltimore, MD | 06/26/2025 | $57,396 |
| State of Georgia | Housing Inspector | Atlanta, GA | 06/17/2025 | $48,500 |
| Howard County (Md | Rental Housing Inspector (Regulation Inspector I)-Inspections, Licenses & Permits | Columbia, MD | 06/11/2025 | $54,995 |
| National Mortgage Field Services, LLC | Take Photos of Houses-Drive-By Inspections | Rome, GA | 06/10/2025 | $12,522 |
| Metro Housing Boston | Housing Inspector | Boston, MA | 06/09/2025 | $55,250 |
| City of Mesquite | Housing Inspector/Landlord Services | Mesquite, TX | 06/01/2025 | $41,823 |
| Syracuse Housing Authority | Housing Authority Inspector-Pioneer Homes | Syracuse, NY | 05/24/2025 | $43,610 |
| CGI | Housing Inspector | Fine, NY | 05/23/2025 | $38,100 |
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