Construction and Building Inspector Salary in Boston, MA
Construction and Building Inspectors in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $84,620 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,349 take-home, or $5,362 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction and building inspector salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,786
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,246
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,227
- Massachusetts income tax$4,011
- Take-home pay$64,349
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Construction and Building Inspector pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,330 | $24.20 | $40,324 | $3,360 |
| 25th percentile | $65,990 | $31.73 | $52,123 | $4,344 |
| Median (50th) | $84,620 | $40.68 | $64,349 | $5,362 |
| 75th percentile | $104,830 | $50.40 | $77,556 | $6,463 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,900 | $60.05 | $90,610 | $7,551 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,620 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction and building inspector's $64,349 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,436 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction and Building Inspector jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for construction and building inspectors, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #4 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $125,130 | $87,758 | $75,907 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,280 | $72,977 | $64,259 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $90,800 | $68,391 | $60,758 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $84,620 | $64,349 | $59,436 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $76,650 | $61,046 | $59,086 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $75,710 | $59,768 | $58,279 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $72,410 | $56,635 | $56,602 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $66,780 | $55,810 | $56,586 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 11 metros →
About the job: construction and building inspectors
Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- 0.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction and building inspector make in Boston, MA?
The median construction and building inspector salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $84,620 a year, or about $40.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,990 and $104,830.
What is a construction and building inspector’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $84,620 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $64,349 a year ($5,362 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,011 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a construction and building inspector?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $74,690. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,436 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #4 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction and building inspector afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median construction and building inspector’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $99,890
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $96,760
- Electrician — $79,910
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $76,940
- Carpenter — $75,210
- Construction Laborer — $63,420
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $57,820