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The average salary for a Project Inspector in the United States is approximately $68,048 annually. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, Project Inspectors in states like California and Texas often earn more due to higher demand and living costs.
Entry-level Project Inspectors can expect to start at a lower salary, while those with several years of experience may see their earnings increase to over $80,000 annually. Gaining certifications and specialized training can also enhance salary potential.
Exploring opportunities in high-demand sectors like construction, civil engineering, and environmental services can lead to better compensation. Additionally, positions in major metropolitan areas typically offer higher salaries compared to rural locations.
Understanding the salary landscape for Project Inspectors is essential for making informed career decisions. With the right experience and qualifications, you can position yourself for lucrative opportunities in this vital field.
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The average project inspector salary in Washington, Massachusetts, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average project inspector salary states are Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $93,523 | $44.96 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $86,181 | $41.43 |
| 3 | Nevada | $85,756 | $41.23 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $99,113 | $47.65 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $82,606 | $39.71 |
| 6 | Michigan | $84,321 | $40.54 |
| 7 | Washington | $99,782 | $47.97 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $77,673 | $37.34 |
| 9 | New York | $94,029 | $45.21 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $98,246 | $47.23 |
| 11 | Vermont | $87,959 | $42.29 |
| 12 | Oregon | $91,351 | $43.92 |
| 13 | Montana | $84,847 | $40.79 |
| 14 | California | $91,610 | $44.04 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $71,283 | $34.27 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $90,392 | $43.46 |
| 17 | Delaware | $92,290 | $44.37 |
| 18 | Iowa | $73,877 | $35.52 |
| 19 | Ohio | $68,947 | $33.15 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $70,702 | $33.99 |
| 21 | Virginia | $80,358 | $38.63 |
| 22 | Kansas | $69,947 | $33.63 |
| 23 | Colorado | $74,529 | $35.83 |
| 24 | Maryland | $74,005 | $35.58 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $64,432 | $30.98 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $61,131 | $29.39 |
| 27 | Idaho | $62,611 | $30.10 |
| 28 | Missouri | $62,945 | $30.26 |
| 29 | Illinois | $71,929 | $34.58 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $71,569 | $34.41 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $68,244 | $32.81 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $66,570 | $32.00 |
| 33 | Alabama | $60,645 | $29.16 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $60,923 | $29.29 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $66,761 | $32.10 |
| 36 | Indiana | $58,828 | $28.28 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $67,194 | $32.30 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $59,123 | $28.42 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $58,387 | $28.07 |
| 40 | Arizona | $63,514 | $30.54 |
| 41 | Texas | $62,204 | $29.91 |
| 42 | Georgia | $51,894 | $24.95 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $59,155 | $28.44 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $55,308 | $26.59 |
| 45 | Alaska | $63,459 | $30.51 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $54,922 | $26.40 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $51,205 | $24.62 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $49,103 | $23.61 |
| 49 | Utah | $57,182 | $27.49 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $48,119 | $23.13 |
| 51 | Florida | $55,039 | $26.46 |
The highest-paying cities for project inspectors are Olympia, WA, Billings, MT, and Richmond, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympia, WA | $102,424 | $49.24 |
| 2 | Billings, MT | $81,956 | $39.40 |
| 3 | Richmond, VA | $80,226 | $38.57 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $74,427 | $35.78 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $74,286 | $35.71 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,985 | $32.20 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,286 | $30.91 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,640 | $30.60 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $62,853 | $30.22 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $61,959 | $29.79 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $55,354 | $26.61 |
| 12 | Marietta, GA | $51,746 | $24.88 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | $48,489 | $23.31 |
A project inspector's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $119,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| 75th Percentile | $91,000 | $7,583 | $44 |
| Average | $68,048 | $5,671 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
The highest paying types of project inspectors are construction analyst, building code administrator, and chief 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 |
| Residential Building Inspector | $48,597 | $4,050 | $23.36 | 28,745 |
| Engineering Construction Inspector | $51,630 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 95,430 |
| Project Manager Internship | $38,852 | $3,238 | $18.68 | 178,233 |
| Building Inspector | $51,781 | $4,315 | $24.89 | 20,962 |
Top companies hiring project inspectors now:
Project inspector salaries at Colonial Pipeline and Arizona Public Service are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average project inspector salary at companies like Pinnacle West Capital and Amazon are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colonial Pipeline | $132,803 | $63.85 |
| 2 | Arizona Public Service | $97,623 | $46.93 |
| 3 | Pinnacle West Capital | $95,444 | $45.89 |
| 4 | Amazon | $90,739 | $43.62 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $87,113 | $41.88 |
| 6 | Whitman | $80,166 | $38.54 |
| 7 | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | $78,869 | $37.92 |
| 8 | Tetra Tech | $71,113 | $34.19 |
| 9 | Morrison-Maierle | $70,520 | $33.90 |
| 10 | Washington State University | $68,497 | $32.93 |
| 11 | Travis County | $67,700 | $32.55 |
| 12 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $66,685 | $32.06 |
| 13 | Nueces County | $66,220 | $31.84 |
| 14 | The State of Oregon | $64,425 | $30.97 |
| 15 | Bureau Veritas | $62,795 | $30.19 |
| 16 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $47,836 | $23.00 |
| 17 | Indiana State Police | $38,317 | $18.42 |
The average project inspector salary has risen by $10,479 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average project inspector earned $57,569 annually, but today, they earn $68,048 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for project inspectors over the last decade.
Compare project inspector salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare project inspector salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $68,000 | $32.72 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $65,700 | $31.60 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $64,600 | $31.07 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $64,000 | $30.75 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | $63,300 | $30.44 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Construction Project Inspector | Richmond, VA | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| City of South Bend, In | Project Inspector-Engineering | South Bend, IN | 06/18/2025 | $65,535 |
| The Liro Group | Lead Abatement Project Inspector | New York, NY | 06/14/2025 | $93,000 |
| State of Virginia | Project Inspector | Enon, VA | 06/13/2025 | $62,062 |
| State of Indiana | Construction Project Inspector | Indianapolis, IN | 06/04/2025 | $45,914 |
| Summit County (Oh | Project Inspector II | Akron, OH | 05/29/2025 | $57,747 |
| Accenture | Infrastructure & Capital Projects-Structures Inspector, ANS | Industry, CA | 05/21/2025 | $139,829 |
| Aecom | Highway Bridge Project Inspector | New York, NY | 05/16/2025 | $93,915 |
| Applus Tech | Project Based Nace or Aamp Inspector | Syracuse, NY | 05/16/2025 | $62,610 |
| Aegeus | Project Based Nace or Aamp Inspector | Syracuse, NY | 05/16/2025 | $62,610 |
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