Construction and Building Inspector Salary in Buffalo, NY
Construction and Building Inspectors in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $77,040 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,464 take-home, or $4,955 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction and building inspector salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,119
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,776
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,117
- New York income tax$3,563
- Take-home pay$59,464
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Construction and Building Inspector pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,730 | $23.43 | $39,300 | $3,275 |
| 25th percentile | $62,860 | $30.22 | $49,891 | $4,158 |
| Median (50th) | $77,040 | $37.04 | $59,464 | $4,955 |
| 75th percentile | $94,950 | $45.65 | $71,066 | $5,922 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,630 | $51.75 | $79,238 | $6,603 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,040 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction and building inspector's $59,464 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,043 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 Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for construction and building inspectors, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #17 of 63 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $129,750 | $90,426 | $81,891 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $125,130 | $87,758 | $75,907 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $102,830 | $81,171 | $73,039 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | $99,620 | $75,009 | $73,004 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $103,980 | $75,188 | $70,486 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $94,420 | $70,357 | $67,121 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $77,730 | $63,513 | $64,766 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $76,930 | $61,617 | $64,541 |
| 17 | Buffalo, NY | $77,040 | $59,464 | $62,043 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 63 metros →
Construction and Building Inspector salaries elsewhere in New York
- Rochester, NY — $77,340
- New York, NY — $90,800
- Albany, NY — $69,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction and building inspector make in Buffalo, NY?
The median construction and building inspector salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $77,040 a year, or about $37.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,860 and $94,950.
What is a construction and building inspector’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $77,040 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $59,464 a year ($4,955 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,563 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a construction and building inspector?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $74,690. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,043 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #17 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction and building inspector afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median construction and building inspector’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,190
- Electrician — $77,930
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $73,650
- Sheet Metal Worker — $72,580
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $72,230
- Carpenter — $63,500
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,640
- Roofer — $62,590
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $53,340
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $51,210
- Construction Laborer — $50,620