Construction and Building Inspector Salary in San Francisco, CA
Construction and Building Inspectors in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $125,130 a year — 68% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $87,758 take-home, or $7,313 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction and building inspector salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,765
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,758
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,814
- California income tax$7,408
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,627
- Take-home pay$87,758
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Construction and Building Inspector pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,000 | $36.54 | $58,440 | $4,870 |
| 25th percentile | $96,800 | $46.54 | $70,898 | $5,908 |
| Median (50th) | $125,130 | $60.16 | $87,758 | $7,313 |
| 75th percentile | $144,020 | $69.24 | $98,667 | $8,222 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,460 | $84.36 | $116,824 | $9,735 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,130 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction and building inspector's $87,758 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,907 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 San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for construction and building inspectors, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #1 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.
Construction and Building Inspector salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $100,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction and building inspector make in San Francisco, CA?
The median construction and building inspector salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $125,130 a year, or about $60.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,800 and $144,020.
What is a construction and building inspector’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $125,130 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $87,758 a year ($7,313 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,034 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a construction and building inspector?
Pay here is 68% above the national median of $74,690. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,907 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #1 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction and building inspector afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median construction and building inspector’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $124,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $120,810
- Electrician — $92,830
- Carpenter — $89,200
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $82,160
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $77,880
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $75,970
- Roofer — $74,340
- Construction Laborer — $72,610
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $63,600