Building Inspector Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Although the employers sometimes appoint individuals with sufficient experience if they have high school diplomas, these professionals are expected to obtain degrees from a junior or community college. They may opt for courses in subjects like blueprint reading to enhance their career prospects.
Training and Education
Obtaining work experience in a related occupation will help job seekers. Building inspectors with four or more years of college are 23% of the total. An estimated 46% of workers attended college at some level but did not pursue a 4-year degree. High school was enough education for 31% of employees.
Job Overview
Building inspectors are responsible for examining buildings and other structures and checking that the construction and alteration of the buildings are in keeping with the contract specifications, zoning regulations, and the codes and ordinances of the government.
Job Requirements
Many states require these professionals to obtain licenses to work. These licenses are typically granted to professionals who have completed high school or some other specified level of education and acquired job experience by working with professional inspectors.
Employers generally appoint candidates who have the right mix of general education, technical knowledge, and experience. They may obtain experience by working in related occupations in the field of construction. They have to learn and keep themselves updated about regulations, ordinances, and codes to which builders must adhere. If they wish to move to a supervisory position, they should obtain an architectural or engineering degree.
Some states require these professionals to regularly attend continuing education programs to ensure that they are aware of the latest developments. Building inspectors have to been in good physical shape because they have to visit different parts of construction sites for inspection purposes.
Nature of Work
There are several types of inspectors. For example, those who work as building inspectors scrutinize the structural quality of buildings. Among them, some professionals specialize in fields such as reinforced concrete structures. Others specialize as plan examiners. They go through the plans and determine whether the plans are in compliance with the codes or not. They also have to inspect the soil and the way in which the footings will be positioned to ensure that the building will indeed be safe. Aspects such as the plumbing systems of the building, the electrical systems, and elevators of the building are often inspected by professionals who are specialists in these areas.
Area Job Conditions
Where are jobs most numerous? Williamsport (Pennsylvania), Palm Coast (Florida), and Jefferson City (Missouri). Least common? Appleton (Wisconsin), Erie (Pennsylvania), and Fort Wayne (Indiana).
Salaries vary across the country, from highest in San Jose (California), Anchorage (Alaska), and Oakland (California) to lowest in Jefferson City (Missouri), Amarillo (Texas), and McAllen (Texas).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Whether by choice or necessity, 5% of building inspectors work part-time. About 9% of workers do not work for a company or organization.
Career Videos
Building Inspectors by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | $48,000 | 30 | +17% |
| Birmingham | $58,000 | 360 | +9% |
| Decatur | $48,000 | 40 | +26% |
| Huntsville | $52,000 | 510 | +277% |
| Mobile | $46,000 | 180 | +58% |
| Montgomery | $47,000 | 120 | +14% |
| Tuscaloosa | $45,000 | 60 | +7% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $68,000 | 110 | +2% |
| Fairbanks | $66,000 | 40 | +121% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $48,000 | 60 | +79% |
| Kingman | $45,000 | 50 | +81% |
| Phoenix | $53,000 | 1,730 | +45% |
| Prescott | $49,000 | 60 | +87% |
| Tucson | $48,000 | 390 | +72% |
| Yuma | $45,000 | 60 | +82% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $48,000 | 140 | +6% |
| Fort Smith | $45,000 | 40 | -49% |
| Little Rock | $43,000 | 220 | -4% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $53,000 | 140 | -18% |
| El Centro | $56,000 | 30 | +2% |
| Fresno | $58,000 | 180 | -15% |
| Los Angeles | $74,000 | 2,180 | -20% |
| Madera | $49,000 | 30 | +67% |
| Merced | $56,000 | 40 | +18% |
| Modesto | $68,000 | 50 | -50% |
| Napa | $76,000 | 60 | +59% |
| Oakland | $74,000 | 750 | +11% |
| Oxnard | $62,000 | 210 | +7% |
| Redding | $57,000 | 40 | +11% |
| Riverside | $68,000 | 1,010 | +24% |
| Sacramento | $64,000 | 620 | +6% |
| Salinas | $66,000 | 70 | -32% |
| San Diego | $69,000 | 830 | -6% |
| San Francisco | $70,000 | 420 | -37% |
| San Jose | $84,000 | 580 | -4% |
| Santa Ana | $74,000 | 710 | -28% |
| Santa Barbara | $73,000 | 150 | +39% |
| Santa Cruz | $74,000 | 30 | -44% |
| Santa Rosa | $76,000 | 120 | +7% |
| Stockton | $63,000 | 100 | -27% |
| Vallejo | $65,000 | 50 | -34% |
| Visalia | $44,000 | 70 | -18% |
| Yuba City | $60,000 | 30 | +37% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $50,000 | 90 | -9% |
| Colorado Springs | $60,000 | 240 | +45% |
| Denver | $64,000 | 970 | +15% |
| Pueblo | $54,000 | 40 | +18% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $57,000 | 130 | -54% |
| Hartford | $63,000 | 290 | -25% |
| New Haven | $68,000 | 100 | -44% |
| Norwich | $51,000 | 50 | -36% |
| Waterbury | $54,000 | 40 | -3% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $47,000 | 60 | +97% |
| Wilmington | $49,000 | 320 | +48% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $68,000 | 2,280 | +39% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $52,000 | 190 | +51% |
| Deltona | $39,000 | 150 | +52% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $58,000 | 760 | +62% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $50,000 | 100 | +114% |
| Gainesville | $51,000 | 60 | -22% |
| Jacksonville | $51,000 | 410 | +2% |
| Lakeland | $50,000 | 70 | -43% |
| Miami | $60,000 | 910 | +38% |
| Naples | $59,000 | 80 | +13% |
| Ocala | $38,000 | 60 | +10% |
| Orlando | $48,000 | 680 | -1% |
| Palm Bay | $52,000 | 200 | +56% |
| Palm Coast | $58,000 | 30 | +257% |
| Panama City | $50,000 | 110 | +164% |
| Pensacola | $41,000 | 100 | +5% |
| Port St Lucie | $49,000 | 140 | +86% |
| Sarasota | $48,000 | 220 | +36% |
| Sebastian | $52,000 | 40 | +45% |
| Tallahassee | $55,000 | 160 | +54% |
| Tampa | $52,000 | 650 | -16% |
| West Palm Beach | $54,000 | 410 | +18% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $41,000 | 30 | -19% |
| Athens | $37,000 | 30 | -31% |
| Atlanta | $50,000 | 1,480 | -5% |
| Augusta | $53,000 | 150 | +12% |
| Brunswick | $40,000 | 30 | +27% |
| Columbus | $54,000 | 130 | +87% |
| Gainesville | $41,000 | 40 | -5% |
| Macon | $42,000 | 40 | -29% |
| Savannah | $43,000 | 140 | +46% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $56,000 | 500 | +70% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $50,000 | 130 | -24% |
| Coeur Dalene | $42,000 | 80 | +168% |
| Idaho Falls | $45,000 | 40 | +46% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $60,000 | 1,990 | -22% |
| Peoria | $60,000 | 50 | -55% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $45,000 | 110 | +160% |
| Elkhart | $41,000 | 40 | -41% |
| Evansville | $46,000 | 150 | +35% |
| Fort Wayne | $40,000 | 30 | -77% |
| Gary | $43,000 | 120 | -32% |
| Indianapolis | $43,000 | 500 | -17% |
| South Bend | $39,000 | 100 | +22% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $47,000 | 70 | -21% |
| Davenport | $53,000 | 80 | -34% |
| Des Moines | $52,000 | 240 | +10% |
| Iowa City | $38,000 | 70 | +63% |
| Waterloo | $39,000 | 30 | -43% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | $62,000 | 100 | +224% |
| Topeka | $45,000 | 70 | +1% |
| Wichita | $49,000 | 200 | +5% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $42,000 | 40 | +21% |
| Elizabethtown | $52,000 | 60 | +133% |
| Lexington | $48,000 | 150 | -5% |
| Louisville | $48,000 | 210 | -48% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $52,000 | 210 | -15% |
| Lafayette | $43,000 | 60 | -34% |
| Lake Charles | $48,000 | 60 | +10% |
| New Orleans | $53,000 | 280 | -21% |
| Shreveport | $44,000 | 70 | -40% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $48,000 | 30 | -19% |
| Portland | $53,000 | 140 | +7% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $50,000 | 1,490 | +68% |
| Bethesda | $52,000 | 440 | +13% |
| Hagerstown | $41,000 | 60 | -1% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $54,000 | 50 | -20% |
| Boston | $57,000 | 980 | -17% |
| Brockton | $55,000 | 40 | -29% |
| Framingham | $55,000 | 80 | -24% |
| Haverhill | $51,000 | 60 | +18% |
| Lowell | $61,000 | 50 | -34% |
| New Bedford | $49,000 | 30 | -23% |
| Peabody | $57,000 | 40 | -37% |
| Pittsfield | $47,000 | 40 | +120% |
| Springfield | $50,000 | 150 | -24% |
| Worcester | $49,000 | 170 | +3% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $58,000 | 100 | -8% |
| Battle Creek | $42,000 | 30 | -2% |
| Bay City | 30 | +64% | |
| Detroit | $51,000 | 480 | +7% |
| Flint | $45,000 | 60 | -28% |
| Grand Rapids | $47,000 | 160 | -36% |
| Holland | $47,000 | 40 | -34% |
| Kalamazoo | $42,000 | 90 | +4% |
| Lansing | $49,000 | 130 | +0% |
| Niles | $42,000 | 40 | +15% |
| Warren | $53,000 | 560 | -23% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $45,000 | 150 | +81% |
| Mankato | $46,000 | 60 | +79% |
| Minneapolis | $61,000 | 1,020 | -15% |
| Rochester | $56,000 | 50 | -22% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $43,000 | 100 | +48% |
| Jackson | $42,000 | 120 | -28% |
| Pascagoula | $43,000 | 40 | +48% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $45,000 | 40 | -19% |
| Joplin | $45,000 | 40 | -18% |
| Kansas City | $50,000 | 480 | -30% |
| Springfield | $43,000 | 80 | -36% |
| St Louis | $52,000 | 1,620 | +79% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | $50,000 | 40 | +91% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $43,000 | 130 | +26% |
| Omaha | $46,000 | 240 | -24% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $73,000 | 840 | +47% |
| Reno | $66,000 | 180 | +45% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $46,000 | 60 | -8% |
| Nashua | $58,000 | 40 | -54% |
| Rochester | $52,000 | 40 | +26% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $62,000 | 170 | +83% |
| Camden | $58,000 | 580 | +65% |
| Edison | $60,000 | 800 | +15% |
| Newark | $60,000 | 970 | +44% |
| Ocean City | $59,000 | 70 | +195% |
| Trenton | $67,000 | 510 | +242% |
| Vineland | $59,000 | 70 | +94% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $48,000 | 230 | -11% |
| Farmington | $46,000 | 40 | +37% |
| Las Cruces | $47,000 | 40 | +3% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $51,000 | 370 | +23% |
| Binghamton | $44,000 | 100 | +40% |
| Buffalo | $51,000 | 580 | +56% |
| Glens Falls | $45,000 | 30 | -3% |
| Kingston | $46,000 | 70 | +93% |
| Nassau | $59,000 | 1,070 | +25% |
| New York | $60,000 | 3,340 | -5% |
| Poughkeepsie | $56,000 | 270 | +66% |
| Rochester | $47,000 | 400 | +18% |
| Syracuse | $46,000 | 280 | +35% |
| Utica | $46,000 | 170 | +114% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $47,000 | 100 | -13% |
| Charlotte | $51,000 | 770 | +33% |
| Durham | $49,000 | 130 | -29% |
| Fayetteville | $55,000 | 160 | +99% |
| Goldsboro | 30 | +28% | |
| Greensboro | $62,000 | 150 | -37% |
| Greenville | $44,000 | 50 | +22% |
| Hickory | $37,000 | 50 | -47% |
| Jacksonville | $42,000 | 40 | +62% |
| Raleigh | $52,000 | 470 | +36% |
| Wilmington | $47,000 | 150 | +72% |
| Winston Salem | $44,000 | 70 | -49% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $49,000 | 40 | -48% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $44,000 | 160 | -25% |
| Canton | $42,000 | 50 | -54% |
| Cincinnati | $49,000 | 450 | -34% |
| Cleveland | $47,000 | 800 | +16% |
| Columbus | $50,000 | 600 | -3% |
| Dayton | $60,000 | 160 | -37% |
| Toledo | $48,000 | 180 | -8% |
| Youngstown | $41,000 | 130 | -13% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $52,000 | 250 | -36% |
| Tulsa | $44,000 | 260 | -10% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $56,000 | 40 | +5% |
| Corvallis | $54,000 | 50 | +236% |
| Eugene | $49,000 | 90 | 0% |
| Medford | $54,000 | 30 | -37% |
| Portland | $61,000 | 920 | +33% |
| Salem | $58,000 | 100 | +4% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $51,000 | 340 | +47% |
| Altoona | $46,000 | 130 | +256% |
| Erie | $44,000 | 60 | -27% |
| Harrisburg | $47,000 | 420 | +97% |
| Johnstown | $47,000 | 60 | +79% |
| Lancaster | $45,000 | 110 | -29% |
| Philadelphia | $50,000 | 1,330 | +3% |
| Pittsburgh | $46,000 | 1,320 | +70% |
| Reading | $50,000 | 110 | +2% |
| Scranton | $41,000 | 200 | +16% |
| State College | $42,000 | 80 | +111% |
| Williamsport | $46,000 | 160 | +424% |
| York | $46,000 | 190 | +66% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $49,000 | 240 | -36% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $47,000 | 110 | -42% |
| Columbia | $45,000 | 210 | -10% |
| Myrtle Beach | $40,000 | 90 | +31% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $46,000 | 70 | -22% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $37,000 | 160 | +7% |
| Clarksville | $50,000 | 80 | +66% |
| Johnson City | $32,000 | 40 | -9% |
| Kingsport | $39,000 | 60 | -22% |
| Knoxville | $43,000 | 160 | -28% |
| Memphis | $44,000 | 280 | -32% |
| Morristown | $37,000 | 30 | +12% |
| Nashville | $44,000 | 300 | -40% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $43,000 | 70 | +4% |
| Austin | $55,000 | 660 | +24% |
| Beaumont | $43,000 | 140 | +34% |
| Brownsville | $36,000 | 50 | -40% |
| College Station | $36,000 | 30 | -48% |
| Corpus Christi | $43,000 | 70 | -40% |
| Dallas | $57,000 | 1,720 | +21% |
| El Paso | $50,000 | 100 | -44% |
| Fort Worth | $52,000 | 460 | -21% |
| Houston | $56,000 | 1,330 | -25% |
| Mcallen | $34,000 | 100 | -34% |
| San Angelo | $43,000 | 30 | +25% |
| San Antonio | $47,000 | 530 | -10% |
| Texarkana | $44,000 | 40 | +24% |
| Tyler | $36,000 | 60 | +7% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $49,000 | 110 | -15% |
| Provo | $51,000 | 100 | -9% |
| Salt Lake City | $54,000 | 260 | -36% |
| St George | $48,000 | 30 | +12% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $46,000 | 60 | -15% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $42,000 | 40 | +9% |
| Charlottesville | $44,000 | 60 | +12% |
| Danville | $41,000 | 30 | +54% |
| Harrisonburg | $46,000 | 30 | -10% |
| Lynchburg | $39,000 | 50 | -19% |
| Richmond | $53,000 | 450 | +9% |
| Roanoke | $42,000 | 150 | +49% |
| Virginia Beach | $50,000 | 670 | +31% |
| Winchester | $57,000 | 40 | +37% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $62,000 | 40 | -11% |
| Bremerton | $62,000 | 40 | -22% |
| Kennewick | $57,000 | 70 | +12% |
| Mount Vernon | $60,000 | 50 | +94% |
| Olympia | $66,000 | 80 | +29% |
| Seattle | $66,000 | 1,120 | +18% |
| Spokane | $56,000 | 140 | +5% |
| Tacoma | $64,000 | 350 | +100% |
| Wenatchee | $63,000 | 40 | +79% |
| Yakima | $55,000 | 40 | -23% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $40,000 | 110 | +18% |
| Parkersburg | $40,000 | 50 | +21% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $53,000 | 30 | -59% |
| Eau Claire | $60,000 | 30 | -34% |
| Green Bay | $56,000 | 50 | -54% |
| Madison | $47,000 | 260 | +15% |
| Milwaukee | $59,000 | 380 | -32% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | $41,000 | 40 | +93% |
| Cheyenne | $48,000 | 150 | +511% |