Transportation Inspectors Salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, transportation inspectors earn $95,420 at the median, or about $45.88 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $87,638 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month — about 37.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $95K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About transportation inspectors
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level transportation inspectors (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Inspectors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $138K | +61% | 200 |
| Idaho | $107K | +25% | 90 |
| Hawaii | $106K | +23% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $104K | +22% | 190 |
| North Dakota | $104K | +22% | 60 |
| District of Columbia | $104K | +21% | 140 |
| Kansas | $104K | +21% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $100K | +17% | 100 |
| Georgia | $98K | +14% | 830 |
| Nevada | $98K | +14% | 230 |
| Washington | $97K | +14% | 420 |
| Maryland | $95K | +11% | 250 |
| Iowa | $95K | +11% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $93K | +8% | 510 |
| New York | $91K | +6% | 3,730 |
| Florida | $87K | +1% | 1,670 |
| Oregon | $85K | -0% | 210 |
| Delaware | $85K | -1% | 70 |
| Texas | $84K | -2% | 2,890 |
| Arkansas | $84K | -3% | 130 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -4% | 150 |
| Kentucky | $82K | -4% | 270 |
| Michigan | $81K | -5% | 310 |
| Connecticut | $80K | -7% | 210 |
| Ohio | $80K | -7% | 440 |
| Louisiana | $79K | -8% | 150 |
| South Carolina | $79K | -8% | 350 |
| Indiana | $78K | -9% | 320 |
| South Dakota | $77K | -10% | 100 |
| Mississippi | $77K | -10% | N/A |
| California | $76K | -12% | 1,900 |
| North Carolina | $76K | -12% | 450 |
| Pennsylvania | $75K | -12% | 310 |
| Tennessee | $74K | -13% | 430 |
| Virginia | $73K | -15% | 340 |
| Alabama | $71K | -18% | 160 |
| New Mexico | $64K | -26% | 140 |
| Utah | $63K | -27% | 240 |
| Missouri | $63K | -27% | 340 |
| Illinois | $58K | -33% | 980 |
| Maine | $55K | -36% | 120 |
| New Jersey | $55K | -36% | 1,020 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -41% | 90 |
| Montana | $49K | -43% | 240 |
| Arizona | $46K | -46% | 930 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track transportation inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
How much do transportation inspectors make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $95,420 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,490, and experienced transportation inspectors can clear $167,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,854/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 38.4% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $87,638 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.
