Business & Finance
Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
Also called: Airport Operations Officer, Housing Inspector, Housing Management Representative, Housing Quality Standard Inspector (HQS Inspector)
US median pay
$80,730
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.8%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
32,700
436,400 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.
What they do day to day
- Prepare correspondence, reports of inspections or investigations, or recommendations for action.
- Examine records, reports, or other documents to establish facts or detect discrepancies.
- Inspect government property, such as construction sites or public housing, to ensure compliance with contract specifications or legal requirements.
- Investigate alleged license or permit violations.
- Inspect manufactured or processed products to ensure compliance with contract specifications or legal requirements.
- Collect, identify, evaluate, or preserve case evidence.
- Submit samples of products to government laboratories for testing, as required.
- Inspect government-owned equipment or materials in the possession of private contractors to ensure compliance with contracts or regulations or to prevent misuse.
- Investigate applications for special licenses or permits.
- Recommend legal or administrative action to protect government property.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.5/5
- Systems Evaluation3.4/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4/5
- Coordination3.4/5
- Systems Analysis3.2/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
Knowledge
- English Language4.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- Public Safety and Security4.2/5
- Building and Construction4.0/5
- Law and Government3.8/5
- Administrative3.7/5
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): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree39%
- Associate's degree25%
- Post-secondary certificate16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.