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.
What it pays
Construction and Building Inspectors earn a median of $35.91/hr — about $74,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $22.66/hr; the top 10% earn $54.91/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Construction and Building Inspectors earn a median of $35.91/hr — about $74,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $22.66/hr; the top 10% earn $54.91/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors; time pressure is a real part of the job; it rewards working independently. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 4.8% of construction and building inspectors are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused, hands-on and analytical.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Electricians
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
- Pile Driver Operators
Quick questions
- How much does a construction and building inspector make?
- The median pay is $35.91 per hour — roughly $74,500 a year, with the real range running from about $22.66/hr (10th percentile) to $54.91/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a construction and building inspector?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
- What does a construction and building inspector actually do all day?
- 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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.