Construction & Extraction
Construction and Building Inspectors
Also called: Building Code Administrator, Building Inspector, Building Official, Code Enforcement Officer
US median pay
$74,690
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
0%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
14,800
153,900 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
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 they do day to 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.
- 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.
- Maintain daily logs and supplement inspection records with photographs.
- Conduct inspections, using survey instruments, metering devices, tape measures, or test equipment.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Systems Evaluation3.2/5
- Persuasion3.1/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
Knowledge
- Building and Construction4.7/5
- Public Safety and Security4.0/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.6/5
- Law and Government3.5/5
- Design3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Post-secondary certificate36%
- High school diploma36%
- Bachelor's degree16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.