Construction and Building Inspectors Salary
Construction and Building Inspectors in Rapid City, SD make a median of $72,470 a year, or about $34.84 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.16), which stretches that salary to about $81,281 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,336/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $72K get you in Rapid City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Rapid City’s Regional Price Parity (89.16). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About construction and building inspectors
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What this looks like in Rapid City
Construction and building inspectors pay in Rapid City tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,336/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.16 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for construction and building inspectors in metros near Rapid City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $78K | $87K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $94K | $90K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $74K | $81K |
| Omaha | $66K | $72K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rapid City, SD
Entry-level construction and building inspectors (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Construction and Building Inspectors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Construction and Building Inspectors salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $102K | +37% | 270 |
| California | $101K | +36% | 13,420 |
| Connecticut | $99K | +32% | 1,430 |
| Washington | $96K | +29% | 3,090 |
| Minnesota | $89K | +19% | 1,390 |
| District of Columbia | $86K | +15% | 370 |
| Oregon | $85K | +13% | 1,780 |
| Massachusetts | $83K | +11% | 4,290 |
| New Jersey | $82K | +9% | 5,950 |
| Colorado | $80K | +7% | 3,700 |
| New York | $79K | +6% | 11,160 |
| Hawaii | $79K | +6% | 710 |
| North Dakota | $79K | +5% | 180 |
| Illinois | $78K | +5% | 2,560 |
| Rhode Island | $77K | +4% | 270 |
| Maryland | $77K | +3% | 2,780 |
| Montana | $76K | +1% | 290 |
| Virginia | $76K | +1% | 6,550 |
| Wisconsin | $76K | +1% | 1,270 |
| Nevada | $75K | +1% | 1,780 |
| Maine | $75K | -0% | 710 |
| Ohio | $74K | -0% | 3,490 |
| Utah | $74K | -1% | 1,240 |
| Arizona | $73K | -2% | 3,330 |
| Delaware | $73K | -3% | 570 |
| Iowa | $72K | -4% | 1,140 |
| Michigan | $71K | -5% | 3,090 |
| Louisiana | $68K | -9% | 1,440 |
| Florida | $68K | -9% | 13,860 |
| Vermont | $67K | -11% | 120 |
| North Carolina | $66K | -12% | 6,490 |
| Georgia | $66K | -12% | 4,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $66K | -12% | 5,320 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | -12% | 420 |
| New Mexico | $65K | -12% | 800 |
| Nebraska | $65K | -13% | 570 |
| South Dakota | $65K | -13% | 200 |
| Texas | $65K | -13% | 18,230 |
| West Virginia | $64K | -14% | 540 |
| Idaho | $64K | -15% | 1,000 |
| Kansas | $63K | -15% | 840 |
| Missouri | $63K | -16% | 1,640 |
| Indiana | $63K | -16% | 2,110 |
| Wyoming | $62K | -17% | 370 |
| Alabama | $61K | -18% | 1,420 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -19% | 1,380 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -20% | 2,500 |
| Oklahoma | $59K | -21% | 2,090 |
| South Carolina | $59K | -21% | 2,500 |
| Arkansas | $53K | -29% | 800 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -33% | 800 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track construction and building inspectors salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a construction and building inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rapid City?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 27% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,336/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction and building inspectors in Rapid City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction and building inspectors typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,983/month. At HUD’s $1,336/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Rapid City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Rapid City compare to the national average for construction and building inspectors?
Rapid City pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do construction and building inspectors make in Rapid City, SD?
The median is $72,470 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,720, and experienced construction and building inspectors can clear $91,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Rapid City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,947/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,336/month, which eats 27% 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 Rapid City?
Rapid City has a Regional Price Parity of 89.16 (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 $81,281 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.