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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. Private, for profit45.23%
  2. State and local government32.55%
  3. Self-employed15.66%
  4. Federal government4.13%
  5. Private, not for profit2.03%

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

Projected Job Growth (2022 - 2032)
-2%
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Job Outlook

×

Employment of construction and building inspectors is projected to decline 2 percent from 2022 to 2032. Despite declining employment, about 15,700 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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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$64,480

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$24,170
$93,600
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

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

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Realistic — You have an interest in physically working with equipment, materials or structures.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.
  • Investigative — You have an interest in studying and researching objects, organisms, and other things.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

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

Knowledge

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

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

No Information for this section

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.