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The average salary for a utility inspector stands at $43,725 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location and years of experience. For instance, utility inspectors with more experience typically command higher salaries.
Entry-level utility inspectors may earn around $35,000, while those with significant experience can earn upwards of $55,000. This pay scale reflects the increasing responsibilities and expertise required as one advances in their career.
Utility inspectors in states like California and Texas tend to earn the most, influenced by local demand for utility services and cost of living adjustments. In contrast, states with lower demand may offer lower salaries.
For those looking to break into this field, opportunities are available across various sectors, including public utilities, private companies, and government agencies. The demand for utility inspectors is expected to grow, making this a viable career choice for job seekers.
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The average utility inspector salary in Montana, Washington, and South Dakota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average utility inspector salary states are Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $53,787 | $25.86 |
| 2 | Nevada | $49,608 | $23.85 |
| 3 | California | $51,808 | $24.91 |
| 4 | Maine | $44,794 | $21.54 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $51,961 | $24.98 |
| 6 | Vermont | $42,098 | $20.24 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $45,795 | $22.02 |
| 8 | Washington | $52,103 | $25.05 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $40,149 | $19.30 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $45,524 | $21.89 |
| 11 | Utah | $45,200 | $21.73 |
| 12 | Iowa | $41,997 | $20.19 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $42,950 | $20.65 |
| 14 | Colorado | $41,690 | $20.04 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $44,611 | $21.45 |
| 16 | Delaware | $45,902 | $22.07 |
| 17 | Kansas | $42,380 | $20.38 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $48,123 | $23.14 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $42,254 | $20.31 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| 21 | Texas | $39,644 | $19.06 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $39,142 | $18.82 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $36,992 | $17.78 |
| 24 | Missouri | $41,848 | $20.12 |
| 25 | Alaska | $42,093 | $20.24 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $38,155 | $18.34 |
| 27 | Alabama | $36,430 | $17.51 |
| 28 | Oregon | $41,572 | $19.99 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $35,542 | $17.09 |
| 30 | Illinois | $40,310 | $19.38 |
| 31 | Idaho | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $37,984 | $18.26 |
| 33 | Virginia | $36,517 | $17.56 |
| 34 | Florida | $34,334 | $16.51 |
| 35 | Arizona | $34,293 | $16.49 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $33,248 | $15.98 |
| 37 | Maryland | $36,415 | $17.51 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $32,874 | $15.80 |
| 39 | Indiana | $31,509 | $15.15 |
| 40 | Michigan | $34,533 | $16.60 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $33,643 | $16.17 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $35,146 | $16.90 |
| 43 | New York | $34,870 | $16.76 |
| 44 | Ohio | $32,315 | $15.54 |
| 45 | Georgia | $29,412 | $14.14 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $31,856 | $15.32 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $26,392 | $12.69 |
| 48 | Rhode Island | $33,606 | $16.16 |
| 49 | District of Columbia | $33,581 | $16.14 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $27,159 | $13.06 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $31,935 | $15.35 |
The highest-paying cities for utility inspectors are Sacramento, CA, Sioux Falls, SD, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $53,019 | $25.49 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls, SD | $51,664 | $24.84 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,438 | $23.77 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $48,095 | $23.12 |
| 5 | Bridgeport, CT | $46,218 | $22.22 |
| 6 | Wilmington, DE | $46,087 | $22.16 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $44,961 | $21.62 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City, UT | $44,931 | $21.60 |
| 9 | Fargo, ND | $44,564 | $21.43 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,366 | $20.85 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $42,948 | $20.65 |
| 12 | Cheyenne, WY | $42,098 | $20.24 |
| 13 | Burlington, VT | $41,879 | $20.13 |
| 14 | Des Moines, IA | $41,849 | $20.12 |
| 15 | Westminster, CO | $41,650 | $20.02 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $41,173 | $19.79 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $40,432 | $19.44 |
| 18 | Manchester, NH | $40,125 | $19.29 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $39,735 | $19.10 |
| 20 | Springfield, MA | $38,734 | $18.62 |
A utility inspector's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $58,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $43,725 | $3,644 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
The highest paying types of utility inspectors are construction analyst, building code administrator, and project inspector.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Analyst | $78,452 | $6,538 | $37.72 | 36,179 |
| Plans Examiner | $59,697 | $4,975 | $28.70 | 4,018 |
| Engineering Construction Inspector | $51,630 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 95,430 |
| Construction Inspector | $52,306 | $4,359 | $25.15 | 42,007 |
| Home Inspector | $51,264 | $4,272 | $24.65 | 55,491 |
| Housing Inspector | $47,599 | $3,967 | $22.88 | 18,546 |
Top companies hiring utility inspectors now:
Utility inspector salaries at RS&H; and Gresham Smith are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average utility inspector salary at companies like Koppers and International Paper are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RS&H | $61,861 | $29.74 |
| 2 | Gresham Smith | $51,449 | $24.74 |
| 3 | Koppers | $46,765 | $22.48 |
| 4 | International Paper | $45,089 | $21.68 |
| 5 | WSB | $44,933 | $21.60 |
| 6 | Icma-rc | $44,418 | $21.35 |
| 7 | Sanderson Farms | $44,368 | $21.33 |
| 8 | USIC | $43,750 | $21.03 |
| 9 | TRC Companies | $43,533 | $20.93 |
| 10 | EN Engineering | $43,219 | $20.78 |
| 11 | ACRT Services | $43,213 | $20.78 |
| 12 | RK&K | $43,206 | $20.77 |
| 13 | Osmose Holdings, Inc. | $43,102 | $20.72 |
| 14 | Whitman | $43,005 | $20.68 |
| 15 | Toho Water Authority | $41,851 | $20.12 |
| 16 | AmeriPride Services | $41,059 | $19.74 |
| 17 | Tyson Foods | $40,554 | $19.50 |
| 18 | Conagra Brands | $40,005 | $19.23 |
| 19 | Pasco | $37,521 | $18.04 |
| 20 | AGY | $36,972 | $17.77 |
The average utility inspector salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $53,108 | $25.53 |
| 2 | Energy | $46,725 | $22.46 |
| 3 | Professional | $42,740 | $20.55 |
| 4 | Utilities | $42,259 | $20.32 |
The average utility inspector salary has risen by $6,733 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average utility inspector earned $36,992 annually, but today, they earn $43,725 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for utility inspectors over the last decade.
Compare utility inspector salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare utility inspector salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,700 | $21.02 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $42,200 | $20.30 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $41,500 | $19.96 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $41,100 | $19.76 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | $40,700 | $19.56 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Kentucky | Utility Inspector I | Frankfort, KY | 06/27/2025 | $40,730 |
| Reconn Utility Services | Utility Inspection Technician (Incentive Opportunities!) | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| City of Hagerstown, Md | Utility Inspector | Hagerstown, MD | 06/20/2025 | $41,406 |
| Stvinc | Utility Inspector | Asheville, NC | 06/20/2025 | $52,754 |
| Stvorporated | Utility Inspector | Charlotte, NC | 06/19/2025 | $52,754 |
| Acrt, Inc. | Arborist Utility Pre-Inspector | Lake | Lake Arrowhead, CA | 06/18/2025 | $58,436 |
| STV Group, Incorporated | Utility Inspector | Raleigh, NC | 06/17/2025 | $52,754 |
| STS/Utiliquest | Utility Inspector Quality Control | Owensboro, KY | 06/14/2025 | $41,740 |
| Locating Inc. | Utility Inspector Quality Control | Owensboro, KY | 06/14/2025 | $41,740 |
| Dycom Industries Inc. | Utility Inspector Quality Control | Owensboro, KY | 06/13/2025 | $41,740 |
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