Careers > Construction and Building Inspectors

Construction and Building Inspectors

$64.48K Median Salary 14.3K Job Openings (Annual Projection) -2.9% Job Growth

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About This Career

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.

Reported Job Titles

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

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

Click on skills to find related courses.

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity

Inductive Reasoning

Deductive Reasoning

Oral Comprehension

Oral Expression

Near Vision

Written Comprehension

Written Expression

Category Flexibility

Far Vision

Flexibility of Closure

Information Ordering

Speech Clarity

Perceptual Speed

Speech Recognition

Visual Color Discrimination

Selective Attention

Visualization

Knowledge

Building and Construction

Customer and Personal Service

Mathematics

Engineering and Technology

Design

English Language

Public Safety and Security

Administration and Management

Mechanical

Law and Government

Computers and Electronics

Education and Training

Administrative

Skills

Active Listening

Reading Comprehension

Speaking

Critical Thinking

Complex Problem Solving

Judgment and Decision Making

Active Learning

Systems Evaluation

Time Management

Coordination

Instructing

Learning Strategies

Mathematics

Monitoring

Negotiation

Persuasion

Quality Control Analysis

Social Perceptiveness

Systems Analysis

Writing

Technology Skills

Word processing software

Presentation software

Electronic mail software

Compliance software

Project management software

Accounting software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Computer aided design CAD software

Data base user interface and query software

Spreadsheet software

Geographic information system

Procurement software

Office suite software

Data base reporting software

Internet browser software

Map creation software

Calendar and scheduling software

Tools

Levels

Circuit tester

Multimeters

GFI circuit testers

Liquid leak detectors

Concrete or cement testing instruments

Gas detectors

Force or torque sensors

Pressure or vacuum recorders

Portable data input terminals

Measuring wheels for distance

Thermographs

Scales

Air velocity and temperature monitors

Remote reading thermometers

Stud finders

Carbon monoxide analyzer

Ammeters

Surface thermometers

Drafting kits or sets

Microfiche or microfilm viewer components or accessories

Temperature humidity testers

Pressure indicators

Notebook computers

Power drills

Metal detectors

Handheld thermometer

Distance meters

Ultrasonic examination equipment

Inspection mirror

Vibration testers

Electronic measuring probes

Radon detectors

Laser measuring systems

Calibrated resistance measuring equipment

Digital camcorders or video cameras

Borescope inspection equipment

Single gas monitors

Optical character recognition systems

Voltage or current meters

Air samplers or collectors

Personal computers

Power meters

Scientific calculator

Megohmmeters

Level sensors or transmitters

Lux or light meter

Desktop calculator

Water analyzers

Microwave leakage meters

Two way radios

Hygrometers

Screwdrivers

Tape measures

Manometers

Dissolved oxygen meters

Scanners

Spectrometers

pH meters

Shovels

Theodolites

Moisture meters

Digital cameras

Plumb bobs

Hydrometers

Insulation testers

Axes

Laser printers

Adjustable widemouth pliers

Desktop computers

Adjustable wrenches

Air sampling pumps

Tablet computers

Conductivity meters

Abilities

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).
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Knowledge

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.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Skills

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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Technology Skills

Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Compliance software: ESS Compliance Suite; Mannus Compliance: EHS; Primatech AUDITWorks
Project management software: Mavenlink; Microsoft Project
Accounting software: Billing software; Bookkeeping software; Intuit QuickBooks; Sage 50 Accounting
Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP software
Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit
Data base user interface and query software: Blackboard software; Database software; Microsoft Access; Yardi software
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Geographic information system: ESRI ArcView; Geographic information system GIS systems
Procurement software: Purchasing software
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Data base reporting software: SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports
Internet browser software: Web browser software
Map creation software: ESRI Site Scan for ArcGIS; OpenDroneMap
Calendar and scheduling software: Appointment scheduling software

Tools

Levels: Optical levels
Circuit tester: Continuity testers
Multimeters:
GFI circuit testers: Ground fault circuit interrupter GFCI testers
Liquid leak detectors: Liquid leak testing equipment; Refrigerant leak detectors
Concrete or cement testing instruments: Rebound hammers
Gas detectors: Combustible gas detectors
Force or torque sensors: Force transducers
Pressure or vacuum recorders: Pressure gauges
Portable data input terminals: Data acquisition equipment; Data loggers
Measuring wheels for distance: Distance measuring wheels
Thermographs: Temperature profile recorders
Scales: Triangular scales
Air velocity and temperature monitors: Air flow calibrators
Remote reading thermometers: Non-contact thermometers
Stud finders: Stud locators
Carbon monoxide analyzer: Carbon monoxide detectors
Ammeters:
Surface thermometers: Field thermometers
Drafting kits or sets: Drafting instruments; Drafting machines
Microfiche or microfilm viewer components or accessories: Microfiche viewing machines; Microfilm viewing machines
Temperature humidity testers: Humidity indicators
Pressure indicators: Pressure meters
Notebook computers: Laptop computers
Power drills: Hand drills
Metal detectors: Rebar locators
Handheld thermometer: Handheld thermometers
Distance meters: Cordage measurers
Ultrasonic examination equipment: Impact resonance devices; Sonic devices
Inspection mirror: Small mirror tools
Vibration testers: Vibration monitors
Electronic measuring probes: Inductive probes
Radon detectors: Radon monitors
Laser measuring systems: Laser shearography flaw detectors; Verisurf Master3DGage
Calibrated resistance measuring equipment: Digital resistance meters; Resistance meters; Resistivity meters
Digital camcorders or video cameras: Digital video cameras
Borescope inspection equipment: Video borescopes
Single gas monitors: Carbon monoxide sensors; Mercury vapor analyzers
Optical character recognition systems: Optical readers and writers
Voltage or current meters: Digital voltmeters DVM
Air samplers or collectors: Aerosol meters; Air quality dataloggers; Microbial samplers; Thermal desorption tubes
Personal computers:
Power meters: Direct current DC power testers
Scientific calculator: Digital calculators
Megohmmeters: Meggers
Level sensors or transmitters: Level transmitters
Lux or light meter: Light meters
Desktop calculator: 10-key calculators
Water analyzers: Water test kits
Microwave leakage meters: Microwave leakage detectors
Two way radios:
Hygrometers: Humidity sticks
Screwdrivers: Mini screwdriver sets
Tape measures: Diameter tape measures
Manometers:
Dissolved oxygen meters: Dissolved oxygen monitors
Scanners: Data input scanners
Spectrometers: Spectroscopes
pH meters: pH monitors
Shovels: Snow shovels
Theodolites: Survey transits
Moisture meters:
Digital cameras:
Plumb bobs:
Hydrometers: Urometers
Insulation testers:
Axes:
Laser printers: Computer laser printers
Adjustable widemouth pliers: Oil filter pliers
Desktop computers:
Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable hand wrenches
Air sampling pumps: Gilibrators; Personal sampling pumps
Tablet computers:
Conductivity meters: