Transportation Inspectors Salary
In Massachusetts, transportation inspectors earn $79,650 at the median, or about $38.29 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $79,578 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 44.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Massachusetts?
About transportation inspectors
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Massachusetts
Pay for transportation inspectors in Massachusetts runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $92K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 46.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for transportation inspectorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level transportation inspectors (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Inspectors salary by metro in Massachusetts
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $103K | +30% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track transportation inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 46.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for transportation inspectors in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation inspectors typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,341/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 100% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $80K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for transportation inspectors?
Massachusetts pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do transportation inspectors make in Massachusetts?
The median is $79,650 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,010, and experienced transportation inspectors can clear $113,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,036/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 46.6% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (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 $79,578 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.