Construction and building inspectors in California: licensing, jobs, pay and local data
14,010 people work as construction and building inspectors in California, and the median pay is $101,160 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 1,001 building inspection businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
That is 0.7 businesses per 10,000 homes, against 0.5 nationally.
California ranks 1 of 51 states for median pay in this trade.
It ranks 6 of 51 for businesses per 10,000 homes.
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 14,010
- Median pay, a year
- $101,160
- Businesses with employees
- 1,001
Construction and building inspectors in California: businesses and jobs
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses with employees | 1,001 | 7,496 |
| Their employees | 4,101 | 28,755 |
| Annual payroll | $299,911,000 | $1,743,845,000 |
| Payroll per employee | $73,131 | $60,645 |
| Businesses per 10,000 homes | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| Jobs | 14,010 | 137,210 |
| Jobs per 1,000 jobs | 0.78 | — |
| Location quotient (1.00 = the national share) | 0.87 | 1.00 |
A location quotient above 1 means the trade’s share of all jobs is larger here than nationally.
What construction and building inspectors earn in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $101,160 | $72,120 |
| Median pay, an hour | $48.64 | $34.67 |
| 10th percentile | $52,480 | $46,560 |
| 25th percentile | $74,890 | $57,300 |
| 75th percentile | $128,490 | $92,330 |
| 90th percentile | $162,240 | $112,320 |
| Average pay, a year | $103,500 | $76,430 |
Construction and building inspectors by county in California
| County | Businesses with employees | Their employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 243 | 536 | 0.7 |
| Orange County | 149 | 862 | 1.3 |
| San Diego County | 118 | 490 | 0.9 |
| Riverside County | 79 | 559 | 0.9 |
| San Bernardino County | 77 | 168 | 1.0 |
| Ventura County | 42 | 79 | 1.4 |
| Alameda County | 27 | 430 | 0.4 |
| Contra Costa County | 25 | 98 | 0.6 |
| Sacramento County | 22 | 65 | 0.4 |
| Placer County | 22 | 52 | 1.2 |
| Kern County | 21 | 123 | 0.7 |
| Sonoma County | 19 | 51 | 0.9 |
| Fresno County | 16 | 90 | 0.5 |
| Santa Clara County | 16 | 48 | 0.2 |
| San Mateo County | 11 | 62 | 0.4 |
| San Joaquin County | 10 | 11 | 0.4 |
| Stanislaus County | 9 | 19 | 0.5 |
| San Francisco County | 8 | 165 | 0.2 |
| Santa Barbara County | 7 | 26 | 0.4 |
| Madera County | 6 | 16 | 1.2 |
| El Dorado County | 6 | 18 | 0.6 |
| Napa County | 6 | 12 | 1.1 |
| San Luis Obispo County | 6 | 16 | 0.5 |
| Solano County | 6 | 8 | 0.4 |
| Santa Cruz County | 5 | 4 | 0.5 |
| San Benito County | 4 | 9 | 1.9 |
| Yolo County | 4 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Monterey County | 4 | 9 | 0.3 |
| Shasta County | 4 | 11 | 0.5 |
| Tulare County | 4 | 6 | 0.3 |
| Imperial County | 3 | 10 | 0.5 |
| Tuolumne County | 3 | 5 | 0.9 |
| Marin County | 3 | 13 | 0.3 |
| Butte County | 3 | 5 | 0.3 |
| Nevada County | 3 | 3 | 0.6 |
The homes behind the work in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1940 | 8.9% (±0.1 points) | 11.7% |
| Homes built 2020 or later | 1.3% (±0.1 points) | 2.0% |
| Households that moved in 2023 or later | 4.3% (±0.1 points) | 4.6% |
| Housing units | 14,644,735 (±1,665) | 143,775,355 |
Licenses for construction and building inspectors in California
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Before work starts, the local building department says which permits the job needs and which license the person pulling them must hold.
Federal rules and model codes for construction and building inspectors
These federal rules apply to this work in every state, and the model codes below are adopted state by state; each is linked to its official text.
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
- EPA lead-based paint activities: abatement, inspection and risk assessment (40 CFR part 745, subpart L)
- International Residential Code and International Building Code (ICC)
Business counts are establishments: a company with offices in two counties is counted in each.
Jobs and pay are for the occupation in every industry, so they include people employed by builders, property managers and governments as well as by contractors.
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Questions about California
How much do construction and building inspectors make in California?
The median pay for construction and building inspectors in California is $101,160 a year, against $72,120 nationally (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many construction and building inspectors work in California?
14,010 people work as construction and building inspectors in California, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
How many building inspection businesses are in California?
The Census Bureau counts 1,001 building inspection businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
Do construction and building inspectors need a license in California?
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- License Finder: construction and building inspectors in California (US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop)
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
- EPA lead-based paint activities: abatement, inspection and risk assessment (40 CFR part 745, subpart L)
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .