Transportation Inspectors Salary
In Kentucky, transportation inspectors earn $83,970 at the median, or about $40.37 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $93,062 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 20.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Kentucky?
About transportation inspectors
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Transportation inspectors pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $92K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 20.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level transportation inspectors (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $95K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Inspectors salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $106K | +27% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track transportation inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 20.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for transportation inspectors in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation inspectors typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,528/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $92K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for transportation inspectors?
Kentucky pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do transportation inspectors make in Kentucky?
The median is $83,970 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,130, and experienced transportation inspectors can clear $136,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,342/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 20.8% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $93,062 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.