Inspectors of standards and regulations: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time inspectors of standards and regulations in the UK earned a median £38,963 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): almost exactly the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That puts it 146th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £33,485 and £44,532.
Median full-time pay: women £37,770 a year, men £39,431 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 23,000 employee jobs, 83% full-time.
From £31,142 in 2021, the median is up 25.1%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 44,300 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £29,632 | £578.00 | £15.53 | £20,363* | £352.30* | £15.39 |
| 20th percentile | £32,192 | £606.50 | £16.47 | £28,927* | £570.30 | £15.83 |
| 25th percentile | £33,485 | £623.20 | £16.93 | £29,737 | £588.50 | £16.40 |
| 30th percentile | £34,507 | £652.20 | £17.53 | £31,343 | £606.00 | £16.83 |
| 40th percentile | £37,266 | £720.60 | £19.02 | £34,083 | £646.10 | £18.42 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £38,963 | £757.10 | £20.21 | £37,236 | £727.10 | £19.72 |
| 60th percentile | £40,665 | £812.60 | £21.50 | £39,158 | £770.80 | £20.80 |
| 70th percentile | £44,027* | £851.40 | £23.44 | £41,476* | £827.00 | £22.84 |
| 75th percentile | £44,532* | £888.10 | £23.58 | £43,931* | £852.20* | £23.55 |
| 80th percentile | – | £920.50* | £24.38* | – | £901.70* | £24.09 |
| Mean | £40,717 | £791.20 | £20.92 | £37,151 | £724.70 | £20.48 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £31,142 | £596.50 | £15.34 | £29,109 | £552.10 | 19* |
| 2022 revised | £33,478 | £613.40 | £15.95 | £31,763 | £586.70 | 21* |
| 2023 revised | £35,345 | £691.40 | £17.43 | £33,688 | £629.40 | 19* |
| 2024 revised | £34,990 | £685.00 | £18.52 | £33,192 | £635.30 | 19* |
| 2025 provisional | £38,963 | £757.10 | £20.21 | £37,236 | £727.10 | 23* |
Inspectors of standards and regulations by region
UK: 44,300 (± 8,200), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What inspectors of standards and regulations do
Inspectors of standards and regulations undertake investigations and inspections to verify and ensure compliance with acts, regulations and other requirements in respect of: buildings, weights, measures and trade descriptions; the installation and safety of electrical, gas and water supplies and equipment; marine pollution, ships’ structures, equipment and accommodation; the treatment of animals; the operation of commercial vehicles; the welfare, health and safety in factories and all work sites subject to the provisions in the Factory Acts. (ONS SOC 2020, 3581)
Also covers: building inspector, driving examiner, housing inspector, meat hygiene inspector, trading standards officer, agricultural inspector, alkali inspector, bank inspector, building controller, casino inspector, chemical inspector, chief inspector, chief officer, coal inspector, compliance inspector, consumer adviser, crane inspector and district inspector (143 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Examines building plans to ensure compliance with local, statutory and other requirements
- Inspects building structures, facilities and sites to determine suitability for habitation, compliance with regulations and for insurance purposes
- Inspects measuring and similar equipment in factories and visits street traders, shops, garages and other premises to check scales, weights and measuring equipment
- Inspects factories and other work sites to ensure adequate cleanliness, temperature, lighting and ventilation, checks for fire hazards and inspects storage and handling arrangements of dangerous materials
- Visits sites during construction and inspects completed installations of electricity, gas or water supply
- Draws attention to any irregularities or infringements of regulations and advises on ways of rectifying them
Entrants usually possess A levels/H grades, a degree or equivalent qualification, together with experience gained in employment. Professional qualifications, membership of professional bodies, postgraduate diplomas and NVQs/ SVQs at levels 3 and 4 are available and may be required in some occupations. On-the-job training is available in some areas.
Related
Regulatory associate professionals (median £44,442) · Health and safety managers and officers · Other vocational and industrial trainers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026