Construction and Building Inspectors Salary
Construction and Building Inspectors in Minnesota make a median of $88,670 a year, or about $42.63 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $95,756 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $89K get you in Minnesota?
About construction and building inspectors
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for construction and building inspectors, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level construction and building inspectors (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary by metro in Minnesota
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $97K | +9% | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $94K | +6% | 940 |
| St. Cloud | $80K | -10% | 40 |
| Duluth | $79K | -10% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track construction and building inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a construction and building inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction and building inspectors in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction and building inspectors typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,697/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Minnesota?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $89K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for construction and building inspectors?
Minnesota pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do construction and building inspectors make in Minnesota?
The median is $88,670 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,610, and experienced construction and building inspectors can clear $112,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,514/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 25.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a construction and building inspectors salary go in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median construction and building inspectors salary is worth about $95,756 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.
