Transportation Inspectors Salary
In Hawaii, transportation inspectors earn $108,270 at the median, or about $52.05 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $152K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $98,275 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 33.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $108K get you in Hawaii?
About transportation inspectors
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Hawaii sits well above the national pay line for transportation inspectors, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $92K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 35.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level transportation inspectors (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $108K. Top earners bring in $152K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Inspectors salary by metro in Hawaii
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | $108K | +0% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track transportation inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $108K, rent takes 35.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for transportation inspectors in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation inspectors typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,118/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 72% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is transportation inspector a high-paying job in Hawaii?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $108K here vs. $92K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for transportation inspectors?
Hawaii pays $108K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do transportation inspectors make in Hawaii?
The median is $108,270 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,960, and experienced transportation inspectors can clear $151,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $108K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,379/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 35.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a transportation inspectors salary go in Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median transportation inspectors salary is worth about $98,275 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do transportation 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.