What is the best state to be a construction and building inspectors?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Alaska is the best state for a construction and building inspectors: a BLS median of $102,410 is worth $100,050 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 102.4), an index of 139.2 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Alaska has the highest headline BLS median for a construction and building inspectors at $102,410, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 139.2). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Construction and Building Inspectors

Best States to Be a Construction and Building Inspectors

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a construction and building inspectors salary goes furthest in Alaska — a $102,410 BLS median worth $100,050 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 139.2).

Which US states are best for a construction and building inspectors after cost of living and tax?

For a construction and building inspectors, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Alaska #1: a $102,410 BLS median becomes $100,050 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 139.2). Mississippi ranks last ($56,173, index 78.1). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Alaska ranks #1 of 51 states for a construction and building inspectors. Index 100 = the average state; 139.2 means pay goes 39.2% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

139.2

Construction and Building Inspectors — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Alaska	$102,410	—	102.4	$100,050	139.2
2	Connecticut	$98,670	$3,852	103.6	$91,514	127.3
3	Washington	$96,140	—	107.0	$89,840	125.0
4	North Dakota	$78,570	$294	89.0	$87,991	122.4
5	California	$101,290	$5,298	110.7	$86,698	120.6
6	Minnesota	$88,670	$4,541	98.6	$85,306	118.7
7	Ohio	$74,490	$1,266	92.8	$78,927	109.8
8	Iowa	$71,630	$2,682	87.8	$78,563	109.3
9	Wisconsin	$75,610	$2,855	94.1	$77,321	107.6
10	Montana	$75,700	$3,328	94.6	$76,467	106.4
11	Louisiana	$68,260	$1,673	88.2	$75,490	105.0
12	Oregon	$84,510	$6,591	103.4	$75,386	104.9
13	Nevada	$75,290	—	100.0	$75,306	104.8
14	Massachusetts	$83,200	$3,940	105.8	$74,945	104.2
15	Colorado	$79,950	$2,858	103.1	$74,809	104.1
16	Illinois	$78,340	$3,737	100.0	$74,635	103.8
17	District of Columbia	$86,200	$4,452	109.9	$74,383	103.5
18	Rhode Island	$77,420	$2,303	102.3	$73,442	102.2
19	Maine	$74,670	$3,426	97.0	$73,410	102.1
20	South Dakota	$64,940	—	88.6	$73,307	102.0
21	New Jersey	$81,760	$3,018	108.8	$72,370	100.7
22	Arizona	$73,440	$1,361	100.7	$71,594	99.6
23	Utah	$74,130	$3,373	98.9	$71,570	99.6
24	Virginia	$75,660	$3,551	101.1	$71,322	99.2
25	Michigan	$71,040	$2,773	96.2	$70,951	98.7
26	New York	$79,460	$3,765	107.9	$70,139	97.6
27	Maryland	$76,640	$3,308	105.0	$69,868	97.2
28	Nebraska	$65,000	$2,284	90.1	$69,605	96.8
29	Delaware	$72,700	$3,457	99.8	$69,376	96.5
30	West Virginia	$64,000	$2,150	89.5	$69,109	96.1
31	New Mexico	$65,420	$1,961	92.2	$68,819	95.7
32	Hawaii	$79,320	$4,498	110.0	$68,050	94.7
33	North Carolina	$66,080	$2,267	94.3	$67,652	94.1
34	Kansas	$63,150	$2,724	90.1	$67,089	93.3
35	Missouri	$62,970	$2,079	90.8	$67,048	93.3
36	Texas	$64,810	—	97.1	$66,775	92.9
37	Wyoming	$61,870	—	92.7	$66,749	92.8
38	Florida	$68,170	—	103.4	$65,920	91.7
39	Vermont	$66,580	$2,013	98.0	$65,913	91.7
40	Alabama	$61,300	$2,800	88.8	$65,861	91.6
41	Georgia	$65,980	$2,910	96.3	$65,499	91.1
42	Pennsylvania	$65,870	$2,022	97.6	$65,437	91.0
43	Indiana	$62,850	$1,856	93.3	$65,354	90.9
44	Tennessee	$59,870	—	91.9	$65,168	90.6
45	Oklahoma	$59,280	$2,278	87.8	$64,891	90.3
46	Kentucky	$60,200	$2,277	90.2	$64,245	89.4
47	Idaho	$63,570	$2,500	95.5	$63,952	89.0
48	New Hampshire	$65,640	—	104.2	$63,015	87.7
49	South Carolina	$58,840	$2,041	93.7	$60,587	84.3
50	Arkansas	$52,700	$1,847	86.9	$58,494	81.4
51	Mississippi	$50,250	$1,406	87.0	$56,173	78.1

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Alaska, a $102,410 salary is worth about $100,050 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $102,410 · BEA cost of living 102.4 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $115,605, a $15,555 gain over Alaska.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$115,605	88.6
2	Arkansas	$113,204	86.9
3	Louisiana	$112,619	88.2
4	Mississippi	$112,594	87.0
5	Iowa	$112,256	87.8
6	North Dakota	$112,242	89.0
7	Tennessee	$111,473	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$111,045	87.8
9	Wyoming	$110,485	92.7
10	Alabama	$109,532	88.8
11	Kentucky	$109,045	90.2
12	West Virginia	$108,913	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Construction and Building Inspectors — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a construction and building inspectors?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Alaska is the best state for a construction and building inspectors: a BLS median of $102,410 is worth $100,050 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 102.4), an index of 139.2 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Alaska has the highest headline BLS median for a construction and building inspectors at $102,410, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 139.2). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a construction and building inspectors salary go least far?: Mississippi ranks last of 51 states for a construction and building inspectors: a $50,250 BLS median is worth only $56,173 after tax and cost of living (index 78.1). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a construction and building inspectors is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.