Quick answer:Construction and Building Inspectors in the Washington area earn a median $80,150 per year, above the national median of $74,690, and the metro employs about 4,060 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Building Inspection Pay in Washington, DC
Metric
Washington metro
District of Columbia
National
Median annual wage
$80,150
$86,200
$74,690
10th percentile
$58,460
$68,120
$47,140
25th percentile
$68,740
$76,130
$58,860
75th percentile
$99,910
$109,920
$94,710
90th percentile
$116,510
$131,810
$114,200
Employment
4,060
370
146,720
Location quotient
1.37
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Washington median of $80,150 is above the national median of $74,690, and below the District of Columbia statewide median of $86,200 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.37 means construction and building inspectors are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Inspection employment sits with municipal and county building departments and third-party firms, so demand follows local permit volume and construction activity.
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Building inspection is credential-driven rather than degree-driven. Jurisdictions hire against International Code Council certifications, issued by discipline and tied to a specific code edition, and states and municipalities adopt code editions on their own schedules. Documented construction experience frequently counts toward certification eligibility, which is why most inspectors arrive from a trade.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
How much do construction and building inspectors make in Washington?
The median annual wage for construction and building inspectors in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $80,150, above the national median of $74,690 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many construction and building inspectors work in the Washington area?
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area employs about 4,060 construction and building inspectors (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do construction and building inspectors in Washington need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Building inspection is credential-driven rather than degree-driven. Jurisdictions hire against International Code Council certifications, issued by discipline and tied to a specific code edition, and states and municipalities adopt code editions on their own schedules. Documented construction experience frequently counts toward certification eligibility, which is why most inspectors arrive from a trade. Confirm current requirements with your state or municipal building department.
Can I study building inspection online from Washington?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state or municipal building department.
Is Washington a better market than the rest of District of Columbia?
The Washington metro median is $80,150 against a statewide median of $86,200 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Construction and Building Inspectors (SOC 47-4011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
