Careers / Construction and Building Inspectors
Construction and Building Inspectors — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$74,690
United States, 2025
Employment
146,720
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 47-4011.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Typical 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$47,140
25th percentile
$58,860
75th percentile
$94,710
90th percentile
$114,200
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Persuasion3.1
- Writing3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Systems Analysis3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 19 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
19
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Writing | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Construction and Building InspectorsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $129,750 | 860 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $125,130 | 2,380 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $112,550 | 210 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $108,180 | 190 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | $106,780 | 160 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | $106,410 | 50 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $103,980 | 1,060 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $102,830 | 1,640 | 2025 |
| AK | $102,410 | 270 | 2025 |
| Norwich, CT | $102,130 | 110 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $102,060 | 140 | 2025 |
| Stockton, CA | $101,340 | 130 | 2025 |
| CA | $101,290 | 13,420 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,830 | 90 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $100,280 | 3,870 | 2025 |
| Yuba City, CA | $100,240 | 40 | 2025 |
| Hartford, CT | $99,620 | 750 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $98,680 | 60 | 2025 |
| CT | $98,670 | 1,430 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $98,580 | 1,330 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Construction and Building Inspectors to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.