Construction and Building Inspectors Salary
Construction and Building Inspectors in Massachusetts make a median of $83,200 a year, or about $40 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $83,125 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 44.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in Massachusetts?
About construction and building inspectors
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for construction and building inspectors, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 44.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level construction and building inspectors (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $89K | +7% | 110 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $85K | +2% | 2,950 |
| Worcester | $81K | -3% | 540 |
| Barnstable Town | $79K | -5% | 140 |
| Pittsfield | $76K | -9% | 100 |
| Springfield | $75K | -10% | 220 |
Compare to other states
Track construction and building inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a construction and building inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 44.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction and building inspectors in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction and building inspectors typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,020/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 78% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is construction and building inspector a high-paying job in Massachusetts?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $83K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for construction and building inspectors?
Massachusetts pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do construction and building inspectors make in Massachusetts?
The median is $83,200 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,330, and experienced construction and building inspectors can clear $123,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,230/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 44.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a construction and building inspectors salary go in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median construction and building inspectors salary is worth about $83,125 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do construction and building inspectors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.