Transportation Inspector Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Transportation Inspectors in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $51,990 a year — 44% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,863 take-home, or $3,572 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median transportation inspector salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,059
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,223
- Medicare (1.45%)$754
- Arizona income tax$1,091
- Take-home pay$42,863
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Transportation Inspector pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,800 | $16.73 | $29,481 | $2,457 |
| 25th percentile | $36,400 | $17.50 | $30,726 | $2,561 |
| Median (50th) | $51,990 | $25.00 | $42,863 | $3,572 |
| 75th percentile | $110,220 | $52.99 | $83,823 | $6,985 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,950 | $65.36 | $100,998 | $8,416 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,990 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median transportation inspector's $42,863 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,487 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Phoenix, AZ has 1.9× the national concentration of transportation inspector jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for transportation inspectors, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #8 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $126,010 | $97,394 | $94,475 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $107,640 | $79,591 | $79,545 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $92,570 | $73,953 | $74,981 |
| 4 | Miami, FL | $100,100 | $79,250 | $69,423 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $101,040 | $73,431 | $64,659 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $93,420 | $70,079 | $62,258 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $55,070 | $43,848 | $42,326 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $51,990 | $42,863 | $41,487 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a transportation inspector make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median transportation inspector salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $51,990 a year, or about $25.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,400 and $110,220.
What is a transportation inspector’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $51,990 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $42,863 a year ($3,572 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,091 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a transportation inspector?
Pay here is 44% below the national median of $92,100. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,487 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #8 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a transportation inspector afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median transportation inspector’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $228,040
- Commercial Pilot — $105,770
- Crane and Tower Operator — $72,580
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $64,990
- Flight Attendant — $61,780
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,770
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $57,020
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $48,770
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $47,460
- Bus Drivers, School — $46,760
- Light Truck Driver — $45,790
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,950