Construction and Building Inspectors Salary
Construction and Building Inspectors in Rochester, MN make a median of $96,840 a year, or about $46.56 an hour. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.82), which stretches that salary to about $106,628 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 23.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $97K get you in Rochester?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Rochester’s Regional Price Parity (90.82). 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 Rochester
Rochester sits well above the national pay line for construction and building inspectors, local pay runs about 30% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.82 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Rochester offers a genuinely strong financial position for construction and building inspectorss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for construction and building inspectors in metros near Rochester, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $94K | $90K |
| Duluth | $79K | $90K |
| St. Cloud | $80K | $91K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $77K | $80K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rochester, MN
Entry-level construction and building inspectors (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $36K 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)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a construction and building inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rochester?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction and building inspectors in Rochester?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction and building inspectors typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,646/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is construction and building inspector a high-paying job in Rochester?
Local pay is 30% above the national median — $97K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Rochester compare to the national average for construction and building inspectors?
Rochester pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.82), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do construction and building inspectors make in Rochester, MN?
The median is $96,840 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,440, and experienced construction and building inspectors can clear $113,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Rochester?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,946/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 23.7% 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 Rochester?
Rochester has a Regional Price Parity of 90.82 (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 $106,628 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.