Transportation Inspectors Salary
In Indiana, transportation inspectors earn $80,330 at the median, or about $38.62 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $87,496 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Indiana?
About transportation inspectors
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What this looks like in Indiana
Pay for transportation inspectors in Indiana runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $92K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Indiana can be a reasonable trade-off for transportation inspectorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level transportation inspectors (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Inspectors salary by metro in Indiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $107K | +34% | 80 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for transportation inspectors in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation inspectors typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,186/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Indiana?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $80K here vs. $92K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for transportation inspectors?
Indiana pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do transportation inspectors make in Indiana?
The median is $80,330 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,430, and experienced transportation inspectors can clear $134,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,204/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 22% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a transportation inspectors salary go in Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 transportation inspectors salary is worth about $87,496 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.