Construction and Building Inspectors pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $133,260 or more. The middle half of construction and building inspectors in Santa Cruz earn between $57,390 and $111,200.
- $48K10th
- $57K25th
- $99KMedian
- $111K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,890 | $7,658 | $44.18 |
| Median | $98,680 | $8,223 | $47.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,390 | $4,782 | $27.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,200 | $9,267 | $53.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Construction and Building Inspectors pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Construction and building inspectors in Santa Cruz earn 12% less than the California average ($103,850) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($77,730). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $74,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $91,890 | $98,680 | $47,850 | $133,260 | 60 |
| California | $103,850 | $101,290 | $56,220 | $161,550 | 13,420 |
| United States | $77,730 | $74,690 | $47,140 | $114,200 | 146,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $91,890, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $69,021 a year, or $5,752 a month and $2,655 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Santa Cruz a good place for construction and building inspectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $91,890 buys what about $83,615 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 12.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 14th of 23 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($124,420).
- San Jose$124,420
- San Francisco$123,300
- Santa Maria$116,130
- Santa Rosa$110,080
- Vallejo$106,740
- Sacramento$104,680
- Salinas$104,660
- Napa$102,640
- Los Angeles$99,710
- Santa Cruz$91,890
All Construction and Building Inspectors salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for construction and building inspectors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($124,420).
- San Jose, CA$124,420
- San Francisco, CA$123,300
- Santa Maria, CA$116,130
- Santa Rosa, CA$110,080
- Vallejo, CA$106,740
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Construction and Building Inspectors salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do construction and building inspectors make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$44.18 an hour on average, and $47.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level construction and building inspectors salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the construction and building inspectors take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $69,021 a year ($5,752 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,890. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do construction and building inspectors earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more than the U.S. average for this job ($77,730).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-4011; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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