Inspector General Salary in the United States

How much does an Inspector General make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Inspector General in the United States is $281,709 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $135.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $319,253
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $254,118 to $301,361
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $228,998
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View as table View as graph 25% $254,118 10% $228,998 90% $319,253 75% $301,361 $281,709 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Inspector General Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $301,361 $25,113 $5,795 $145
Average $281,709 $23,476 $5,417 $135
25th Percentile $254,118 $21,177 $4,887 $122
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Key Factors That Influence Inspector General Salaries

An Inspector General'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 Inspector General Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Inspector General'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): $213,991
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $246,775
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $287,457
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $357,991
  • Expert (over 8 years): $453,493
Levels Salary
Senior Ma... Level Inspector General$213,991
Assistant... Level Inspector General$246,775
Inspector... Level Inspector General$287,457
General C... Level Inspector General$357,991
Chief Leg... Level Inspector General$453,493
$213,991 0 yr
$246,775 < 2 yrs
$287,457 2-4 yrs
$357,991 5-8 yrs
$453,493 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Inspector Generals

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: $355,320
  • San Francisco: $351,826
  • Oakland: $344,023

What Skills Can Increase an Inspector General's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.93% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Procurement (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): Procurement is the process of finding and agreeing to terms, and acquiring goods, services, or works from an external source, often via a tendering or competitive bidding process. Procurement is used to ensure the buyer receives goods, services, or works at the best possible price when aspects such as quality, quantity, time, and location are compared. Corporations and public bodies often define processes intended to promote fair and open competition for their business while minimizing risks such as exposure to fraud and collusion. Almost all purchasing decisions include factors such as delivery and handling, marginal benefit, and price fluctuations. Procurement generally involves making buying decisions under conditions of scarcity. If sound data is available, it is good practice to make use of economic analysis methods such as cost-benefit analysis or cost-utility analysis.
  • Regulatory Compliance (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): Monitoring strict adherence of all organizational processes and procedures to applicable laws and regulations.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.93%
Procurement 2.09%
Regulatory Compliance 1.47%
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 an Inspector General's salary.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Financial Services: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Leadership
$312,697
11%
Financial Services
$309,880
10%
Commitment
$307,063
9%
Intellectual Property
$307,063
9%
Partnering
$307,063
9%
Legal Function
$307,063
9%
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How Education impacts an Inspector General's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Inspector Generals enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Inspector General with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $267,334 and $286,255).

Inspector General Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Inspector General
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 0.6%
Associates 0.6%
Bachelors 0.9%
Masters 2.4%
Doctorate 95.5%
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Inspector General Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Inspector General'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Inspector General

Salaries for an Inspector General can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $223,443 in 2023 to around $220,448 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Inspector General salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Inspector General Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$223,443
2024
$223,462
2025
$220,448
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $223,443
2024 $223,462
2025 $220,448
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Inspector General

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Inspector General

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

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Inspector General job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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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