Construction and Building Inspectors pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,110 or more. The middle half of construction and building inspectors in Columbia earn between $47,100 and $77,220.
- $36K10th
- $47K25th
- $62KMedian
- $77K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,140 | $5,178 | $29.88 |
| Median | $62,410 | $5,201 | $30.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,100 | $3,925 | $22.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,220 | $6,435 | $37.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Construction and Building Inspectors pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Construction and building inspectors in Columbia earn 3% more than the South Carolina average ($60,040) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($77,730). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $74,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $62,140 | $62,410 | $35,970 | $84,110 | 450 |
| South Carolina | $60,040 | $58,840 | $36,140 | $84,860 | 2,500 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $62,140, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $50,305 a year, or $4,192 a month and $1,935 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for construction and building inspectors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $62,140 buys what about $66,345 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Construction and Building Inspectors salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($69,970).
- Spartanburg$69,970
- Charleston$62,250
- Columbia$62,140
- Myrtle Beach$61,080
- Florence$60,090
- Hilton Head Island$59,240
- Greenville$52,560
All Construction and Building Inspectors salaries in South Carolina
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 Columbia: questions
How much do construction and building inspectors make an hour in Columbia?
$29.87 an hour on average, and $30.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level construction and building inspectors salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the construction and building inspectors take-home pay in Columbia?
About $50,305 a year ($4,192 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,140.
Do construction and building inspectors earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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