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Map of Washington, DC showing 1 metro area with skilled trade pay data
Washington, DC: 1 metro with trade pay data

Building Inspector pay in Washington, DC

Statewide and by city · BLS, May 2025

$86,200statewide median a year
$41.44median an hour
#6of 50 states + DC
370building inspectors employed statewide

Statewide pay Government data

Building inspectors in Washington, DC earn a statewide median of $86,200 a year, 28% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #6 of 50 states and DC. About 370 people work in the trade statewide.

Statewide pay range

$68,120Entry · 10th$76,13025th$86,200Median$109,92075th$131,810Top · 90th

States ranked near Washington, DC

Connecticut$98,670
Washington$96,140
Minnesota$88,670
Washington, DC$86,200
Oregon$84,510
Massachusetts$83,200
New Jersey$81,760

See all states on the building inspectors nationwide.

Pay by city Government data

BLS publishes building inspector pay for 1 Washington, DC metro: Washington.

MetroMedian payReal payJobs
WashingtonWASHINGTON, DC · DC$80,150$73,6104,060

Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate

The job (national)

Blueprint-style drawing of a framed wall and roof with dimensions, illustrating building inspector work in Washington, DC
Building Inspector pay in Washington, DC: $86,200 statewide median, BLS May 2025.

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.

Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 0.0% from 2025 to 2035, with about 14,800 openings a year. Typical training: moderate-term on-the-job training.

Nationally, building inspectors have 58 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 34% below the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is falls, slips and trips.

What the work is like Government data

How often building inspectors deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.

Outdoors, in all kinds of weatherVery often
Indoors with heating and air conditioningOften
Very hot or cold conditionsSometimes
Working at heightsSometimes
Climbing ladders, scaffolds or polesOccasionally
Cramped spaces and awkward positionsOccasionally
Loud noiseOften
Hazardous conditionsOccasionally
Standing, bending, kneeling and walkingOccasionally
SittingSometimes

Getting started usually takes medium preparation (vocational training or an apprenticeship, often 1–2+ years).

O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.

Licensing in Washington, DC Official source

The main state licensing office in Washington, DC is the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. It can point you to the right license for building inspectors.

Official Washington, DC licensing site ↗

Requirements for building inspectors vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.

Union membership

In 2025, 9.2% of wage and salary workers in Washington, DC were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#23 of 51 states and D.C.), and 10.7% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only building inspectors.

BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.

Cities in Washington, DC

WashingtonWASHINGTON, DC · DC+3.3%population since 2020 · 3.8% unemployment

All trades in Washington, DC.

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