Construction and Building Inspectors Salary
Construction and Building Inspectors in Wisconsin make a median of $75,610 a year, or about $36.35 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $80,155 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 24.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Wisconsin?
About construction and building inspectors
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Wisconsin
Construction and building inspectors pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level construction and building inspectors (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary by metro in Wisconsin
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $82K | +9% | 70 |
| Madison | $78K | +3% | 140 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $77K | +2% | 470 |
| Eau Claire | $76K | +1% | 30 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $75K | -1% | 40 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $69K | -9% | 30 |
| Appleton | $68K | -9% | 50 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $64K | -15% | 40 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $63K | -17% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track construction and building inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a construction and building inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction and building inspectors in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction and building inspectors typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,837/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for construction and building inspectors?
Wisconsin pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do construction and building inspectors make in Wisconsin?
The median is $75,610 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,290, and experienced construction and building inspectors can clear $101,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,885/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 24.6% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $80,155 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.