Occupations · Construction and Extraction

Construction and Building Inspectors

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 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 47-4011.00

$72,120median annual wage, May 2024

137,210people employed, United States

▼ 0.8%projected change, 2024→2034

14,800openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 69% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$85,960	11,060
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$62,990	4,490
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$63,450	4,410
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$103,480	3,730
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$78,200	3,540
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$66,380	3,010
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$79,560	2,950
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$75,350	2,950
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$65,940	2,760
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	$78,280	2,540
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$125,150	2,430
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$78,110	2,370

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Train, direct, or supervise other construction inspectors.
Monitor construction activities to ensure that environmental regulations are not violated.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Reading Comprehension4.0

Critical Thinking3.9

Active Listening3.8

Speaking3.8

Writing3.1

Active Learning3.1

Mathematics3.0

Learning Strategies3.0

Monitoring3.0

Science2.5

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Autodesk AutoCAD●Intuit QuickBooks●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Project●Microsoft Word●Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management●SAP software●Arc Second PocketCADAutomated permit system softwareDatabase softwareESRI ArcViewEmail softwareInspection Depot Home Guide SystemMicrosoft ExchangeMicrosoft Internet ExplorerMobile building inspection softwareMunicipal geographic management softwareNew construction inspection form softwareNorthWest Builders Network Plan AnalystOptaSoft Commercial Building InspectorOracle Primavera SystemsQuickenReal estate and tax softwareResidential home inspection form softwareTrimble Digital Fieldbook

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment+2.3 above average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions+2.2 above average

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled+1.9 above average

Outdoors, Under Cover+1.9 above average

Exposed to High Places+1.5 above average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets+1.3 above average

Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions+1.2 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2024-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)36%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)36%

Bachelor's Degree16%

Some College Courses4%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2024-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic6.2

Conventional5.4

Investigative4.1

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Inspect structures to determine cause and origin of damage.

O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Judgment and Decision Making3.4

Complex Problem Solving3.4

Time Management3.2

Systems Evaluation3.2

Persuasion3.1

Social Perceptiveness3.0

Instructing3.0

Systems Analysis3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Building and ConstructionPublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceLaw and GovernmentDesign

Abilities it leans on

Problem SensitivityInductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionNear Vision

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

InspectorPlan CheckerGrade CheckerPlan ExaminerGas InspectorRoad InspectorPlans ExaminerLine InspectorCode InspectorUtility LocatorField InspectorStreet InspectorBoiler InspectorBridge Inspector

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 2 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 3

+Quicken+Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management+Microsoft Exchange

No longer listed 5

−Calendar and scheduling software−Internet browser software−Word processing software−Spreadsheet software−Intuit Quicken software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

InspectorPlan CheckerGas InspectorGrade CheckerPlan ExaminerLine InspectorCode InspectorPlans ExaminerHome InspectorRoad InspectorUtility LocatorChief Inspector

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
utilities inspector	3119.17	broader
construction quality inspector	3112.1.3	broader
construction safety inspector	3112.2	broader
building inspector	3112.1.2	broader
bridge inspector	3112.1.1	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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