Construction and Building Inspectors pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,930 or more. The middle half of construction and building inspectors in San Diego earn between $76,000 and $121,610.
- $59K10th
- $76K25th
- $99KMedian
- $122K75th
- $159K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,240 | $8,270 | $47.71 |
| Median | $98,580 | $8,215 | $47.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,000 | $6,333 | $36.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,610 | $10,134 | $58.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Construction and Building Inspectors pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Construction and building inspectors in San Diego earn 4% less than the California average ($103,850) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($77,730). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $74,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $99,240 | $98,580 | $58,730 | $158,930 | 1,330 |
| California | $103,850 | $101,290 | $56,220 | $161,550 | 13,420 |
| United States | $77,730 | $74,690 | $47,140 | $114,200 | 146,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $99,240, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $73,508 a year, or $6,126 a month and $2,827 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for construction and building inspectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $99,240 buys what about $88,697 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 11th of 23 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($124,420).
- San Jose$124,420
- San Francisco$123,300
- Santa Maria$116,130
- Santa Rosa$110,080
- Vallejo$106,740
- Sacramento$104,680
- Salinas$104,660
- Napa$102,640
- Los Angeles$99,710
- San Diego$99,240
All Construction and Building Inspectors salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for construction and building inspectors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($124,420).
- San Jose, CA$124,420
- San Francisco, CA$123,300
- Santa Maria, CA$116,130
- Santa Rosa, CA$110,080
- Vallejo, CA$106,740
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Construction and Building Inspectors salary in San Diego: questions
How much do construction and building inspectors make an hour in San Diego?
$47.71 an hour on average, and $47.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level construction and building inspectors salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the construction and building inspectors take-home pay in San Diego?
About $73,508 a year ($6,126 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do construction and building inspectors earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% more than the U.S. average for this job ($77,730).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-4011; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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