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Construction and Building Inspectors: Career Overview
Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.
The Daily Work of Construction and Building Inspectors Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of construction and building inspectors span:
- Approve building plans that meet required specifications.
- Review and interpret plans, blueprints, site layouts, specifications, or construction methods to ensure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations.
- Issue permits for construction, relocation, demolition, or occupancy.
- Inspect bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, or foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety, or conformance to specifications and codes.
- Monitor installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, or appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations.
- Inspect and monitor construction sites to ensure adherence to safety standards, building codes, or specifications.
- Confer with owners, violators, or authorities to explain regulations or recommend remedial actions.
- Measure dimensions and verify level, alignment, or elevation of structures or fixtures to ensure compliance to building plans and codes.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful construction and building inspectors draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Amusement Ride Inspector
- Architectural Examiner
- Architectural Inspector
- Boiler Inspector
- Bridge Inspector
- Building Code Administrator
- Building Code Inspector
- Building Equipment Inspector
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 619,425 construction and building inspectors working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +8.0% over the projection horizon.
Construction and Building Inspectors Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $48,708 |
| Hourly median | $23.42 |
| 10th percentile | $28,533 |
| 25th percentile | $38,621 |
| 75th percentile | $58,796 |
| 90th percentile | $68,883 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Construction and Building Inspectors Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $101,160 |
| Alaska | $94,030 |
| District of Columbia | $91,630 |
| Washington | $89,360 |
| Connecticut | $87,290 |
| Minnesota | $83,890 |
| Oregon | $82,220 |
| New Jersey | $82,210 |
| Massachusetts | $79,220 |
| Colorado | $78,940 |
| New York | $78,570 |
| Nevada | $76,560 |
| North Dakota | $74,970 |
| Illinois | $73,050 |
| Arizona | $73,040 |
| Rhode Island | $72,790 |
| Maryland | $71,990 |
| Utah | $71,040 |
| Ohio | $70,890 |
| Nebraska | $70,730 |
| Wisconsin | $70,700 |
| Virginia | $69,960 |
| Michigan | $69,890 |
| Hawaii | $69,560 |
| Louisiana | $69,150 |
| New Hampshire | $66,750 |
| Vermont | $66,130 |
| North Carolina | $65,830 |
| Idaho | $65,720 |
| Maine | $65,670 |
| Florida | $65,340 |
| Delaware | $64,990 |
| Georgia | $64,290 |
| Iowa | $63,830 |
| Kentucky | $63,770 |
| Indiana | $63,750 |
| South Dakota | $63,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,180 |
| New Mexico | $62,470 |
| Missouri | $62,230 |
| Texas | $62,110 |
| Kansas | $61,850 |
| Alabama | $61,500 |
| Montana | $60,500 |
| Wyoming | $60,320 |
| South Carolina | $60,050 |
| Tennessee | $59,850 |
| Oklahoma | $58,810 |
| West Virginia | $57,240 |
| Arkansas | $52,970 |
| Mississippi | $49,750 |
| Guam | $48,010 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,430 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for construction and building inspectors shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $95,637 | 14.9% | 0.89 |
| New England | $77,516 | 4.8% | 1.08 |
| Middle Atlantic | $75,376 | 19.5% | 1.35 |
| Rocky Mountains | $73,965 | 4.4% | 1.17 |
| Great Lakes | $70,046 | 9.3% | 0.67 |
| Plains States | $68,208 | 4.5% | 0.68 |
| Southeast | $64,673 | 26.2% | 1.15 |
| Southwest | $63,650 | 15.9% | 1.26 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $129,160 | 1,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $125,150 | 2,430 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $113,030 | 270 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $109,070 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $103,480 | 3,730 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $102,380 | 1,060 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $102,000 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $100,330 | 1,630 |
Top Industries Employing Construction and Building Inspectors
The largest employers of construction and building inspectors are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 51,270 | $73,980 |
| Construction | 12,900 | $66,340 |
| Utilities | 3,300 | $107,480 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 2,680 | $50,950 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,000 | $63,130 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,010 | $55,340 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 940 | $49,270 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 870 | $53,450 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Project management software: Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for construction and building inspectors reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
Getting Started in This Career
Typical construction and building inspectors positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Construction Managers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (Primary-Short)
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (Supplemental)
- Civil Engineers (Supplemental)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Future construction and building inspectors often complete programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-4011.00 (Construction and Building Inspectors).
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