Transportation Inspectors pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,430 or more. The middle half of transportation inspectors in Columbia earn between $88,610 and $133,470.
- $50K10th
- $89K25th
- $115KMedian
- $133K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $109,680 | $9,140 | $52.73 |
| Median | $115,210 | $9,601 | $55.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $88,610 | $7,384 | $42.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,470 | $11,122 | $64.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Transportation Inspectors pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Transportation inspectors in Columbia earn 30% more than the South Carolina average ($84,170) and 24% more than the U.S. average ($88,540). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $92,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $109,680 | $115,210 | $49,940 | $149,430 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $84,170 | $80,490 | $67,920 | $100,420 | 440 |
| United States | $88,540 | $92,100 | $40,330 | $138,670 | 24,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Transportation Inspectors salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $109,680, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $81,242 a year, or $6,770 a month and $3,125 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 transportation 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 $109,680 buys what about $117,102 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Transportation Inspectors salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 1st of 2 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Columbia$109,680
- Greenville$83,970
Highest-paying cities for transportation inspectors
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($128,300).
- Anchorage, AK$128,300
- Minneapolis, MN$127,870
- Seattle, WA$122,750
- Oklahoma City, OK$122,140
- Orlando, FL$118,170
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Transportation Inspectors salary in Columbia: questions
How much do transportation inspectors make an hour in Columbia?
$52.73 an hour on average, and $55.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level transportation inspectors salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $88,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the transportation inspectors take-home pay in Columbia?
About $81,242 a year ($6,770 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $109,680.
Do transportation inspectors earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% more than the U.S. average for this job ($88,540).
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 53-6051; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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