Construction and extraction
Construction and building inspectors
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.
Median pay
$74,690
Growth to 2035
0%
little or no change
Openings a year
14,800
Time to qualify*
5.5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Construction and building inspectors
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- 5 years or more
Calculate your switch to construction and building inspectors
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Construction and building inspectors: 20% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: Building Code Administrator · Building Inspector · Building Official · Code Enforcement Officer · Code Inspector · Combination Building Inspector · Construction Inspector · Electrical Inspector
Outlook and AI
Construction and building inspectors held 153,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 153,900 by 2035 (0%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change - share decreases as more remote inspection technology is used.
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