Construction and Building Inspectors pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $183,710 or more. The middle half of construction and building inspectors in San Jose earn between $87,340 and $161,270.
- $59K10th
- $87K25th
- $130KMedian
- $161K75th
- $184K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,420 | $10,368 | $59.82 |
| Median | $129,750 | $10,812 | $62.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $87,340 | $7,278 | $41.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $161,270 | $13,439 | $77.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Construction and Building Inspectors pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Construction and building inspectors in San Jose earn 20% more than the California average ($103,850) and 60% more than the U.S. average ($77,730). At the median the gap is +74% against the U.S. median of $74,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $124,420 | $129,750 | $58,990 | $183,710 | 860 |
| 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 Jose
On the average salary of $124,420, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $88,828 a year, or $7,402 a month and $3,416 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 Jose a good place for construction and building inspectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $124,420 buys what about $112,676 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 12.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 23 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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
- Stockton$99,640
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 Jose: questions
How much do construction and building inspectors make an hour in San Jose?
$59.82 an hour on average, and $62.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level construction and building inspectors salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $87,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the construction and building inspectors take-home pay in San Jose?
About $88,828 a year ($7,402 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,420. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do construction and building inspectors earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 60% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.8%.
- 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 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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