Construction and Building Inspectors salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Construction and Building Inspectors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $129,750 a year ($62.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 860 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $183,710 for the top 10%. That is 74% higher than the national median of $74,690. Pay here is 28% higher than the California statewide median of $101,290. There are 0.76 construction and building inspectors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $124,420, close to the median.
Pay range for construction and building inspectors in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,990 | $28.36 |
| 25th percentile | $87,340 | $41.99 |
| Median | $129,750 | $62.38 |
| 75th percentile | $161,270 | $77.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $183,710 | $88.32 |
| Average (mean) | $124,420 | $59.82 |
Half of construction and building inspectors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,812.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,406.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,990.38 |
| Weekly | $2,495.19 |
| Hourly | $62.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $129,750 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,130 | 2,380 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $112,550 | 210 |
| Vallejo, CA | $108,180 | 190 |
| Napa, CA | $106,410 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $103,980 | 1,060 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $102,060 | 140 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $101,340 | 130 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,830 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,280 | 3,870 |
| Yuba City, CA | $100,240 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $98,680 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,580 | 1,330 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $89,950 | 1,160 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $84,240 | 220 |
| Chico, CA | $83,480 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $80,850 | 280 |
| Modesto, CA | $80,660 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $80,320 | 120 |
| Visalia, CA | $77,680 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,480 | 290 |
| Redding, CA | $75,960 | 70 |
| El Centro, CA | $72,860 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for construction and building inspectors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $102,410 |
| California | $101,290 |
| Connecticut | $98,670 |
| Washington | $96,140 |
| Minnesota | $88,670 |
| District of Columbia | $86,200 |
| Oregon | $84,510 |
| Massachusetts | $83,200 |
| New Jersey | $81,760 |
| Colorado | $79,950 |
See Construction and Building Inspectors pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Fence Erector | $58,250 | $28.00 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $61,200 | $29.42 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $62,980 | $30.28 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $173,920 | $83.62 |
| Electrician | $91,030 | $43.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $129,700 | $62.36 |
| Carpenter | $80,190 | $38.55 |
| Construction Laborer | $68,470 | $32.92 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $107,560 | $51.71 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,970 | $29.79 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $79,430 | $38.19 |
| Roofer | $76,650 | $36.85 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-4011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction and building inspectors make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for construction and building inspectors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $129,750 a year, or $62.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $183,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid construction and building inspectors make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of construction and building inspectors in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $183,710 a year. The top 25% earn $161,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for construction and building inspectors in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,990 a year, and a quarter of construction and building inspectors earn $87,340 or less.
How many construction and building inspectors work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 860 construction and building inspectors are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.