Inspect buildings and construction for code compliance and safety, review plans, and approve or flag the work.
Construction sites and government offices
Regular weekday hours, some field travel
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
High school / no degree
Training path: On-the-job training, then certified.
Most states require inspectors to be licensed or certified.
You can earn while you train. This field has a genuinely paid pathway in — an apprenticeship, a paid academy, or employer-funded training — so you draw a paycheck instead of taking on debt to learn it.
Checks that construction meets code — steady work that rewards trade experience, though building cycles affect it.
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Standard Occupational Classification 47-4011. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.