Emissions Inspector Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Emissions Inspector in the United States is $65,011 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,818
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58,740 to $74,332
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,030
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View as table View as graph 25% $58,740 10% $53,030 90% $82,818 75% $74,332 $65,011 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Emissions Inspector Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $74,332 $6,194 $1,429 $36
Average $65,011 $5,418 $1,250 $31
25th Percentile $58,740 $4,895 $1,130 $28
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Key Factors That Influence Emissions Inspector Salaries

An Emissions 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 Emissions Inspector Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Emissions 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): $58,593
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $65,447
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $72,550
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,677
  • Expert (over 8 years): $90,660
Levels Salary
Safety Te... Level Emissions Inspector$58,593
Emissions... Level Emissions Inspector$65,447
Safety Te... Level Emissions Inspector$72,550
Safety Te... Level Emissions Inspector$85,677
Safety Su... Level Emissions Inspector$90,660
$58,593 0 yr
$65,447 < 2 yrs
$72,550 2-4 yrs
$85,677 5-8 yrs
$90,660 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Emissions 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 Emissions Inspectors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $71,980.
  • California: $71,707.
  • Massachusetts: $70,751.

Top Paying Cities for Emissions 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: $81,998
  • San Francisco: $81,192
  • Oakland: $79,391

What Skills Can Increase an Emissions Inspector's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.91% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Safety Management (Mentioned in 3.63% Job Postings): Applying safety principles, framework, processes, and measures to prevent accidents, injuries, and other adverse consequences.
  • Risk Assessment (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Broadly speaking, a risk assessment is the combined effort of: identifying and analyzing potential (future) events that may negatively impact individuals, assets, and/or the environment (i.e. risk analysis); and making judgments "on the tolerability of the risk on the basis of a risk analysis" while considering influencing factors (i.e. risk evaluation).Put in simpler terms, a risk assessment analyzes what can go wrong, how likely it is to happen, what the potential consequences are, and how tolerable the identified risk is. As part of this process, the resulting determination of risk may be expressed in a quantitative or qualitative fashion. The risk assessment is an inherent part of an overall risk management strategy, which attempts to, after a risk assessment, "introduce control measures to eliminate or reduce" any potential risk-related consequences.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.91%
Safety Management 3.63%
Risk Assessment 1.57%
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 Emissions Inspector's salary.
  • Aviation: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Radiation Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Microsoft PowerPoint: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Aviation
$74,113
14%
Radiation Safety
$72,162
11%
Microsoft PowerPoint
$71,512
10%
Program Management
$71,512
10%
Innovation
$70,212
8%
Consulting
$69,562
7%
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How Education impacts an Emissions Inspector's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Emissions 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 an Emissions Inspector with a Associate's Degree is between $57,661 and $63,060).

Emissions Inspector Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Emissions Inspector
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 29.0%
High School 29.0%
Associates 22.6%
Bachelors 38.7%
Masters 9.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Emissions Inspector Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Emissions 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Emissions Inspector

Salaries for an Emissions Inspector can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $62,430 in 2023 to around $62,390 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Emissions Inspector salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Emissions Inspector Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$62,430
2024
$62,745
2025
$62,390
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $62,430
2024 $62,745
2025 $62,390
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Emissions Inspector

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

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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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