Transportation Inspectors Salary
In Michigan, transportation inspectors earn $35,890 at the median, or about $17.25 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $139K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $65K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $38,226 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 52% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Michigan?
About transportation inspectors
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What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for transportation inspectors in Michigan runs about 61% below the U.S. median of $92K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,272/month, which is 52% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for transportation inspectorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level transportation inspectors (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $139K or more, a $106K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Inspectors salary by metro in Michigan
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $95K | +163% | 40 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $53K | +47% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track transportation inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation inspector afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 52% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for transportation inspectors in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation inspectors typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,006/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Michigan?
Local pay runs 61% below the national median — $36K here vs. $92K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for transportation inspectors?
Michigan pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -61%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do transportation inspectors make in Michigan?
The median is $35,890 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,440, and experienced transportation inspectors can clear $139,390. The mean (average) is $65,260, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,446/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 52% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $38,226 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.