Transportation Inspectors Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$40,790
- 25th Percentile — Junior$55,660
- 50th Percentile — Median$83,000
- 75th Percentile — Senior$114,850
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$144,460
Half of Transportation Inspectors in California earn more than $83,000. The top 10% make $144,460 or more, while entry-level workers start around $40,790.
Transportation Inspectors in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 21st of 44 states for Transportation Inspectors pay, at $88,500 per year (0.0% above the U.S. average of $88,540).
- 1,790 people work as Transportation Inspectors in California — 7.3% of all U.S. Transportation Inspectors jobs.
- Location quotient 0.62: Transportation Inspectors jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,790; the top 10% earn over $144,460.
- Hourly equivalent: $42.55 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $122,000.
- Among transportation jobs in California, Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers pays the most ($310,190).
Transportation Inspectors Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Transportation Inspectors here earn $88,500 on average, placing the state 21st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $88,500 is roughly equivalent to $62,324 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Colorado ($90,010), Minnesota ($89,890), Ohio ($88,950) are the closest alternatives for Transportation Inspectors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Transportation Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers $310,190/yr California +250.5% vs this role
- Commercial Pilots $202,040/yr California +128.3% vs this role
- Air Traffic Controllers $156,910/yr California +77.3% vs this role
- Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels $129,580/yr California +46.4% vs this role
- Locomotive Engineers $75,600/yr California 14.6% vs this role
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $62,020/yr California 29.9% vs this role
- Light Truck Drivers $53,310/yr California 39.8% vs this role
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $50,360/yr California 43.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Transportation Inspectors salary in California?
The average Transportation Inspectors salary in California is $88,500 per year (median $83,000), which is 0.0% above the national average of $88,540.
How does California rank for Transportation Inspectors pay?
California ranks 21st out of 44 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($122,000/yr).
How much do entry-level Transportation Inspectors make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Transportation Inspectors in California earn about $40,790 per year and the 25th percentile is $55,660.
How much do Transportation Inspectors make per hour in California?
About $42.55 per hour, based on the $88,500 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Transportation Inspectors work in California?
BLS counts 1,790 Transportation Inspectors jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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