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Salary comparison

Construction and Building Inspectors vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers out-earn Construction and Building Inspectors by $5K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Construction and Building Inspectors land at $74,690 and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers at $79,920. The education gap is real: construction and building inspector programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Construction and Building Inspectors is Alaska ($102,410); for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers it's Washington ($109,570).

Construction and Building Inspectors
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Median salary
$74,690
$79,920
Hourly rate
$35.91/hr
$38.42/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$47,140
$53,280
Senior level (90th %)
$114,200
$128,260
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
146,720
812,210
Job growth (10-year)
-0.8%
5.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Alaska
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Construction and Building Inspectors median pay.

State
Construction and Building Inspectors
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Alaska
$102,410
$102,140
California
$101,290
$97,680
Connecticut
$98,670
$92,260
Washington
$96,140
$109,570
Minnesota
$88,670
$97,610
District of Columbia
$86,200
$86,520
Oregon
$84,510
$103,070
Massachusetts
$83,200
$97,850
New Jersey
$81,760
$105,510
New York
$79,460
$95,700
Hawaii
$79,320
$102,630
Illinois
$78,340
$105,750
Rhode Island
$77,420
$98,590
Wisconsin
$75,610
$85,350
Missouri
$62,970
$87,520

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Construction and Building Inspectors or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn more nationally. The median is $74,690 for Construction and Building Inspectors versus $79,920 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, a difference of $5K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Construction and Building Inspectors or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 5.3% projected growth, compared to -0.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Construction and Building Inspectors or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

Construction and Building Inspectors typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Construction and Building Inspectors get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Construction and Building Inspectors at $102,410/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Construction and Building Inspectors vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Construction and Building Inspectors earn $102,410 vs. $102,140 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Construction and Building Inspectors salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Construction and Building Inspectors by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a construction and building inspectorsGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersGuide →