Construction and Building Inspectors Salary
Construction and Building Inspectors in West Virginia make a median of $64,000 a year, or about $30.77 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $71,886 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in West Virginia?
About construction and building inspectors
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for construction and building inspectors in West Virginia runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $75K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for construction and building inspectorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level construction and building inspectors (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary by metro in West Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $64K | -0% | 100 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $63K | -1% | 80 |
| Wheeling | $60K | -6% | 70 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $51K | -20% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track construction and building inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a construction and building inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction and building inspectors in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction and building inspectors typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,045/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 West Virginia?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $64K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for construction and building inspectors?
West Virginia pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do construction and building inspectors make in West Virginia?
The median is $64,000 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,090, and experienced construction and building inspectors can clear $92,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,252/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $71,886 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.