California Median
$83,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.90
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-10% vs US median
US median $92,100
State Rank
#20 of 44
1,790 employed here
How much does a Transportation Inspector make in California?
Transportation Inspectors in California take home a median of $83,000 annually — roughly $39.90 an hour — which runs 10% below the national median of $92,100.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $40,790 while the top 10% make $144,460 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $55,660 and $114,850 a year.
Transportation Inspector salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,790 | $19.61 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $55,660 | $26.76 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $83,000 | $39.90 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $114,850 | $55.22 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,460 | $69.45 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 20th out of 44 states and territories for Transportation Inspector pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Transportation Inspector salary in other states
Alaska $123,120Iowa $116,850Oklahoma $111,070Hawaii $108,270Alabama $108,140North Dakota $106,330Washington $104,250Kansas $103,380Florida $101,470Texas $101,440Maryland $100,700Georgia $95,030New York $93,420Minnesota $92,860Connecticut $91,520District of Columbia $89,960Arkansas $85,130North Carolina $84,470Kentucky $83,970Colorado $81,820Pennsylvania $81,550South Carolina $80,490Indiana $80,330Massachusetts $79,650Tennessee $78,430Oregon $78,110Louisiana $77,460Ohio $77,010Wisconsin $75,260South Dakota $70,080Virginia $68,610Missouri $64,690Utah $64,480Maine $63,750New Mexico $63,690Montana $62,810Arizona $62,250West Virginia $58,670Idaho $54,330Nevada $50,060New Jersey $49,250Illinois $47,990Michigan $35,890
Working as a Transportation Inspector in California
Nationally, about 25,000 people work as Transportation Inspectors in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($83,000) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Transportation Inspector make in California?
The median Transportation Inspector salary in California is $83,000 per year, or about $39.90 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $40,790 at the entry level to $144,460 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Transportation Inspectors about 10% less than the national median of $92,100. California ranks 20th out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Transportation Inspectors?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $83,000 a year. About 1,790 Transportation Inspectors are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Transportation Inspector salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.