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Commercial Inspector Salary in the United States

How much does a Commercial Inspector make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Commercial Inspector in the United States is $59,462 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Commercial Inspector's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,163
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,115 to $66,634
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,427
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Commercial Inspector Salaries

A Commercial Inspector's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Commercial Inspector Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Commercial Inspector's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,482
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $61,223
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $62,950
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $63,295
  • Expert (over 8 years): $63,525
Levels Salary
Entry Level Commercial Inspector$60,482
Intermediate Level Commercial Inspector$61,223
Senior Level Commercial Inspector$62,950
Specialist Level Commercial Inspector$63,295
Expert Level Commercial Inspector$63,525
View as Graph

How Do Commercial Inspector Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Commercial Inspectors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $65,836.
  • California: $65,586.
  • Massachusetts: $64,712.

Top Paying Cities for Commercial Inspectors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $74,999
  • San Francisco: $74,178
  • Oakland: $72,615

What Skills Can Increase a Commercial Inspector's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 3.83% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
  • API (Mentioned in 3.38% Job Postings): An application programming interface is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.4% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail 3.83%
API 3.38%
Microsoft Office 2.4%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Commercial Inspector's salary.

  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Construction Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oral Communication $64,219
8%
Construction Management $64,219
8%
Presentation $64,219
8%
Get Latest Data

Commercial Inspector Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Commercial Inspector roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Commercial Inspector positions in Retail & Wholesale or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Commercial Inspector as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Commercial Inspector

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$74,327$36.025%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$65,408$31.010%
Construction$62,435$30.05%

How Education impacts a Commercial Inspector's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Commercial Inspectors enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Commercial Inspector with a Associate's Degree is between $60,178 and $64,902).

Commercial Inspector Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Commercial Inspector
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 46.3%
Associates 18.3%
Bachelors 31.1%
Masters 2.4%
Doctorate 1.2%
View as Graph

Commercial Inspector Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Commercial Inspector's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$52,115
Average $59,462/year
$66,634
$4,343
Average $4,955/month
$5,553
$1,002
Average $1,143/week
$1,281
$25
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $66,634 $5,553 $1,281 $32
Average $59,462 $4,955 $1,143 $29
25th Percentile $52,115 $4,343 $1,002 $25

Most common benefits for Commercial Inspector

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Commercial Inspector

Here are companies hiring for Commercial Inspector and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Commercial Inspector

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Commercial Inspector?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Commercial Inspector roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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