Statewide pay Government data
Building inspectors in Tennessee earn a statewide median of $59,870 a year, 11% below the typical U.S. metro, ranking #47 of 50 states and DC. About 2,500 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near Tennessee
See all states on the building inspectors nationwide.
Pay by city Government data
BLS publishes building inspector pay for 9 Tennessee metros: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, Knoxville, Memphis, Morristown and Nashville.
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClarksvilleTENNESSEE · TN | $62,850 | $69,106 | 110 |
| NashvilleTENNESSEE · TN | $61,310 | $63,641 | 790 |
| MemphisTENNESSEE · TN | $59,750 | $64,820 | 570 |
| KnoxvilleTENNESSEE · TN | $58,150 | $62,818 | 440 |
| KingsportTENNESSEE · TN | $56,820 | $65,728 | 110 |
| MorristownTENNESSEE · TN | $56,300 | $65,189 | 30 |
| ChattanoogaTENNESSEE · TN | $55,620 | $60,811 | 170 |
| JacksonTENNESSEE · TN | $54,450 | $63,668 | 60 |
| Johnson CityTENNESSEE · TN | $50,720 | $57,684 | 30 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Pay outside the cities Government data
BLS also reports pay for Tennessee's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.
BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.
The job (national)
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.
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 Tennessee Official source
The main state licensing office in Tennessee is the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. It can point you to the right license for building inspectors.
Official Tennessee licensing site ↗
Requirements for building inspectors vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Cities in Tennessee
All trades in Tennessee.