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Construction and Building Inspectors

General Information

Description

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.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. State and local government41.18%
  2. Private, for profit38.31%
  3. Self-employed17.28%
  4. Private, not for profit2.01%
  5. Federal government1.14%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Government & Public Administration

Job Outlook

Employment of construction and building inspectors is projected to decline 4 percent from 2021 to 2031. Despite decliningemployment, about 14,800 openings for construction and building inspectors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Job Outlook

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Employment of construction and building inspectors is projected to decline 4 percent from 2021 to 2031. Despite decliningemployment, about 14,800 openings for construction and building inspectors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$61,640

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$81,390
$23,220
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Post-secondary certificate 34%
  • High school 21%
  • Bachelor's degree 17%
  • Associate's degree 17%
  • Some college 4%
  • Post-master's certificate 4%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Building and Construction
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Mechanical

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.