Salaries › Building Inspector › California
Building Inspector Salary in California (2026)
$48.70 per hour · take-home ≈ $74,744/year ($6,229/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Building Inspectors (2nd of 51), with a median about 36% above the national average. Of the 13,420 Building Inspector jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $101,290 a year — though pay ranges from $56,220 for newcomers to $161,550 at the top.
Building Inspector pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $56,220 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $76,160 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $101,290 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $128,530 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $161,550 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 13,420 Building Inspector jobs in California (occupation code 47-4011, “Construction and Building Inspectors”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Building Inspector salary of $101,290 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $74,744 — an effective tax rate of 26.2%.
| Gross (median) | $101,290 |
| Federal income tax | −$13,454 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$7,749 |
| California state income tax | −$5,343 |
| Take-home (annual) | $74,744 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $6,229 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Building Inspector make in California?
- The median Building Inspector salary in California is $101,290 per year ($48.70 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $76,160 and $128,530.
- What is the take-home pay for a Building Inspector in California?
- On the median salary of $101,290, a single filer in California takes home about $74,744 per year ($6,229 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 26.2%.
- How many Building Inspector jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 13,420 Building Inspector jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Building Inspectors
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.