Construction and Building Inspector Salary in Seattle, WA
Construction and Building Inspectors in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $102,830 a year — 38% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $81,171 take-home, or $6,764 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction and building inspector salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,793
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,375
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,491
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$81,171
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Construction and Building Inspector pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,320 | $31.40 | $54,665 | $4,555 |
| 25th percentile | $82,240 | $39.54 | $66,686 | $5,557 |
| Median (50th) | $102,830 | $49.44 | $81,171 | $6,764 |
| 75th percentile | $108,010 | $51.93 | $84,815 | $7,068 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,970 | $58.16 | $93,932 | $7,828 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,830 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction and building inspector's $81,171 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,039 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for construction and building inspectors, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 63 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction and building inspector make in Seattle, WA?
The median construction and building inspector salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $102,830 a year, or about $49.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,240 and $108,010.
What is a construction and building inspector’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $102,830 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $81,171 a year ($6,764 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a construction and building inspector?
Pay here is 38% above the national median of $74,690. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,039 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction and building inspector afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median construction and building inspector’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $121,130
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $111,440
- Sheet Metal Worker — $109,830
- Electrician — $101,780
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $95,750
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $95,230
- Pipelayer — $84,830
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $80,860
- Taper — $80,340
- Tile and Stone Setter — $79,040
- Carpenter — $76,410
- Glazier — $75,610