Construction and building inspectors in Washington: licensing, jobs, pay and local data
2,960 people work as construction and building inspectors in Washington, and the median pay is $89,360 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 208 building inspection businesses with employees in Washington (2023 County Business Patterns).
That is 0.6 businesses per 10,000 homes, against 0.5 nationally.
Washington ranks 4 of 51 states for median pay in this trade.
It ranks 8 of 51 for businesses per 10,000 homes.
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 2,960
- Median pay, a year
- $89,360
- Businesses with employees
- 208
Construction and building inspectors in Washington: businesses and jobs
| Washington | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses with employees | 208 | 7,496 |
| Their employees | 521 | 28,755 |
| Annual payroll | $34,917,000 | $1,743,845,000 |
| Payroll per employee | $67,019 | $60,645 |
| Businesses per 10,000 homes | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Jobs | 2,960 | 137,210 |
| Jobs per 1,000 jobs | 0.84 | — |
| Location quotient (1.00 = the national share) | 0.94 | 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 Washington
| Washington | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $89,360 | $72,120 |
| Median pay, an hour | $42.96 | $34.67 |
| 10th percentile | $61,820 | $46,560 |
| 25th percentile | $73,790 | $57,300 |
| 75th percentile | $103,150 | $92,330 |
| 90th percentile | $121,000 | $112,320 |
| Average pay, a year | $90,460 | $76,430 |
Construction and building inspectors by county in Washington
| County | Businesses with employees | Their employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| King County | 48 | 164 | 0.5 |
| Pierce County | 31 | 89 | 0.8 |
| Clark County | 26 | 49 | 1.3 |
| Snohomish County | 24 | 61 | 0.7 |
| Spokane County | 19 | 28 | 0.8 |
| Thurston County | 11 | 31 | 0.9 |
| Whatcom County | 7 | 31 | 0.7 |
| Skagit County | 6 | 16 | 1.1 |
| Benton County | 4 | 9 | 0.5 |
| Clallam County | 4 | 10 | 1.0 |
| Grays Harbor County | 4 | 9 | 1.1 |
| Kitsap County | 4 | 3 | 0.3 |
| Chelan County | 3 | 5 | 0.8 |
| Cowlitz County | 3 | 3 | 0.6 |
The homes behind the work in Washington
| Washington | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1940 | 9.6% (±0.1 points) | 11.7% |
| Homes built 2020 or later | 2.3% (±0.1 points) | 2.0% |
| Households that moved in 2023 or later | 5.2% (±0.1 points) | 4.6% |
| Housing units | 3,306,620 (±517) | 143,775,355 |
Licenses for construction and building inspectors in Washington
Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington
How much do construction and building inspectors make in Washington?
The median pay for construction and building inspectors in Washington is $89,360 a year, against $72,120 nationally (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many construction and building inspectors work in Washington?
2,960 people work as construction and building inspectors in Washington, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
How many building inspection businesses are in Washington?
The Census Bureau counts 208 building inspection businesses with employees in Washington (2023 County Business Patterns).
Do construction and building inspectors need a license in Washington?
Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington (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 .