Construction and Building Inspector Salary in Riverside, CA
Construction and Building Inspectors in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $89,950 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,805 take-home, or $5,567 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction and building inspector salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,959
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,577
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,304
- California income tax$4,136
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,169
- Take-home pay$66,805
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Construction and Building Inspector pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,620 | $24.82 | $41,839 | $3,487 |
| 25th percentile | $75,230 | $36.17 | $57,970 | $4,831 |
| Median (50th) | $89,950 | $43.25 | $66,805 | $5,567 |
| 75th percentile | $108,940 | $52.38 | $78,151 | $6,513 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,570 | $61.33 | $89,167 | $7,431 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $89,950 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction and building inspector's $66,805 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,762 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 less concentrated in Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction and building inspectors, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $89,950 | $66,805 | $62,762 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $129,750
- San Francisco, CA — $125,130
- Sacramento, CA — $103,980
- San Diego, CA — $98,580
- Los Angeles, CA — $100,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction and building inspector make in Riverside, CA?
The median construction and building inspector salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $89,950 a year, or about $43.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,230 and $108,940.
What is a construction and building inspector’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $89,950 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $66,805 a year ($5,567 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,305 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a construction and building inspector?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $74,690. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,762 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction and building inspector afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median construction and building inspector’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,710
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $78,720
- Electrician — $72,790
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $72,790
- Carpenter — $70,880
- Sheet Metal Worker — $68,780
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,920
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $63,330
- Roofer — $62,050
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $61,420
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $61,190
- Glazier — $60,750