Building Inspectors in the Akron area earn a median of $67,410 a year, 0% above the typical U.S. metro. That ranks #169 of 338 metros nationwide.
Within driving distance, the same work pays more in Cleveland, but less in Canton.
It's one of 8 Ohio metros with published pay for this trade; see statewide building inspector pay.
What this means Our calculation
Pay for building inspectors here is about average compared with other U.S. metros, and also about average once local prices are factored in. For the wider job market, unemployment is higher than in most metros (4.9%) and the population is growing slowly (+0.0% since 2020).
A summary of the numbers on this page; nothing here is estimated beyond them.
Akron scorecard for building inspectors Our calculation
Grades compare Akron with every other U.S. metro for this trade (A = top 20%).
Pay Government data
Pay range
Shaded: the middle half of workers. Grey line: typical U.S. metro ($67,380).
Pay over time
The median pay for building inspectors in the Akron area went from $62,560 in 2020 to $67,410 in 2025, up 7.8%. Prices rose 25% over the same period, so after inflation that's -14.1% — a real pay cut.
BLS OEWS, May 2020–May 2025; inflation: CPI-U (May to May). Year-to-year changes can include survey noise.
Compared with nearby metros
What the pay is really worth in Akron Our calculation
Prices in Akron run 7% below the U.S. average. Adjusted for that, a median paycheck here buys what $72,197 would in a typical place, ranking #166 of 335 on real pay.
Two different views, don't combine them. Real pay already accounts for housing, because the price index includes rent. Rent burden shows what share of pay a typical 1-bedroom takes. Use either one, not both together.
What building inspectors do
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.
Most important day-to-day tasks
- Approve building plans that meet required specifications.
- Review and interpret plans, blueprints, site layouts, specifications, or construction methods to ensure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations.
- Issue permits for construction, relocation, demolition, or occupancy.
- Inspect bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, or foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety, or conformance to specifications and codes.
- Monitor installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, or appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations.
Outlook & getting started
Nationally, building inspector jobs are projected to grow 0.0% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 14,800 openings a year. About 3% are self-employed.
What the work is like Government data
How often building inspectors deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
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 Ohio Official source
The main state licensing office in Ohio is the Ohio Department of Commerce. Home of the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. It can point you to the right license for building inspectors.
Official Ohio licensing site ↗
Requirements for building inspectors vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
On-the-job safety Government data
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.
BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, 2023–2024 (national, cases with days away from work).
Highest-paying OH metros for building inspectors
| Metro | Median | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| DaytonOHIO · OH | $79,730 | $86,014 | 170 |
| ColumbusOHIO · OH | $76,930 | $80,581 | 870 |
| CincinnatiOHIO · OH | $76,440 | $80,151 | 630 |
| ClevelandOHIO · OH | $74,960 | $79,810 | 720 |
| ToledoOHIO · OH | $74,510 | $81,472 | 120 |
| AkronOHIO · OH | $67,410 | $72,197 | 170 |
| CantonOHIO · OH | $64,960 | $72,657 | 90 |
| YoungstownOHIO · OH | $64,300 | $73,575 | 80 |
See every metro in Ohio.
How much work is there? Government data
Local job market
The Akron area's unemployment rate was 4.9% in 2025 (all workers, not just building inspectors), above the typical U.S. metro's 4.1%. It was 5.3% in 2021.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual averages 2021–2025 (2025 preliminary).
Getting to work
The average commute in the Akron area is 24 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 10% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 75% drive alone, 1% take transit and 13% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Population
The Akron area's population grew 0.0% from 2020 to 2025 (701,686 → 701,780), ranking #296 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +8,761) account for more than all of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
Homes in Akron
The Akron area has about 321,578 homes. 63% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is older than most; 6% were built in 2010 or later. Older homes often need more repair, replacement and upgrade work. 68% of households own their home, and the median home value is $237,300.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
New construction
New-home permits in Akron are down 38% from 2021 to 2025 (1,215 → 751).
In 2025 the Akron area approved permits for 751 new homes (638 single-family), or 1.1 per 1,000 residents, ranking #354 of 393 metros, a slower building market than most.
Working outdoors in Akron Government data
In an average year, Akron has 14 days at 90°F or hotter (fewer than most metros; typical metro 33), 118 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 71 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 83°F and winter nights 23°F. That matters for building inspectors: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Akron Fulton International Airport, OH station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Employee vs. working for yourself Your scenario
A model, not a market rate. It shows the minimum you'd need to bill to match a $67,410 employee salary once you cover what an employer normally pays for. Change any number.
Minimum billing rate
How this calculator works. Billable hours are hours you can charge a customer. Driving, quoting, paperwork and slow weeks aren't billable, which is why 1,400 is a common starting point versus 2,080 paid hours as an employee.
Get building inspector pricing & estimate templates →Compare Akron with another city →
About this data
- Pay: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2025, local to this metro.
- Pay over time: BLS OEWS May 2020–2025, local; inflation from the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).
- Real pay: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, local.
- Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027, local (county rents weighted by population).
- Job outlook, education, training: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national.
- Duties: O*NET 31.0, national.
- Safety: BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, 2023–2024, national.
- New construction: Census Building Permits, 2021–2025, local.
- Housing: Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year, local (age of homes, ownership, home values).
- Population: Census Bureau population estimates, 2020–2025, local.
- Commute: Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year, local, all workers.
- Unemployment: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025 annual averages, local, all workers (2025 preliminary).
- Competition: Census Nonemployer Statistics 2024 and County Business Patterns 2023, local, reported by industry, so related trades can share one figure.
- Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Grades rank this metro against all others for the same trade.
Report a data issue on this page
The Census doesn't publish one-person business or competition figures for building inspectors as a separate industry, so that section is left out.