# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/construction-and-building-inspectors
- SOC code: 47-4011.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $74,690 (10th percentile $47,140, 90th percentile $114,200)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, 0.0%
- Openings a year: 14,800
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 86 |
| Investigative (I) | 52 |
| Artistic (A) | 4 |
| Social (S) | 8 |
| Enterprising (E) | 19 |
| Conventional (C) | 74 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 82/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 82/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 79/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 76/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 73/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 73/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Evaluation, Time Management, Active Learning, Persuasion

## Knowledge

Building and Construction, Public Safety and Security, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Design, Law and Government, Mathematics, Administration and Management, Mechanical, Administrative

## Also called

Amusement Ride Inspector, Architectural Examiner, Architectural Inspector, Boiler Inspector, Bridge Inspector, Building Code Administrator, Building Code Inspector, Building Equipment Inspector, Building Inspector, Building Official

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4604) (CIP 4604, 319 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Utah Valley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-valley-university-3103) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $82,443 | $97,793 | $11,042 |
| [The University of Texas at San Antonio](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio-2767) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,627 | $90,691 | $17,750 |
| [Tuskegee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tuskegee-university-2832) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,054 | $87,107 | not reported |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $69,819 | $74,310 | $27,000 |

## Related careers

- [Government Property Inspectors and Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/government-property-inspectors-and-investigators): $80,730 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-construction-trades-and-extraction-workers): $79,920 median pay
- [Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-vehicle-equipment-and-systems-inspectors-except-aviation): $92,100 median pay
- [Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/civil-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $64,950 median pay
- [Aviation Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aviation-inspectors): $92,100 median pay
- [Solar Energy Installation Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-energy-installation-managers): $79,920 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.