What do they do?

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.

Also known as:

Building Inspection Engineer, Building Inspector, Building Official, Code Enforcement Officer, Code Inspector, Combination Building Inspector, Commercial Inspector, Construction Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Elevator Inspector, Engineering Inspector, Home Inspector, Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Public Works Inspector

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Construction and Building Inspectors is projected to Decline 7 percent from 2020 to 2030

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
  • -7.3%

    Change

    Ranks #61 in job growth rate
    300

    Job Openings

    Ranks #23 in net job growth

Colleges with the most graduates that become Construction and Building Inspectors

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (1%)
  • Master's degree  (6%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (24%)
  • Associate's degree  (14%)
  • Some college, no degree  (27%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (26%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (2%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Construction and Building Inspectors

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People in this career often have these skills:

  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Monitor construction operations.
  • Authorize construction activities.
  • Evaluate construction projects to determine compliance with external standards or regulations.
  • Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards.
  • Inspect plumbing systems or fixtures.
  • Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
  • Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
  • Record operational or environmental data.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure proper installation.
  • Verify alignment of structures or equipment.
  • Evaluate projects to determine compliance with technical specifications.
  • Measure work site dimensions.
  • Train construction or extraction personnel.
  • Direct construction or extraction personnel.
  • Communicate with clients about products, procedures, and policies.
  • Estimate construction project costs.
  • Inspect industrial or commercial equipment to ensure proper operation.
  • Test air quality at work sites.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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