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Building inspector vs code inspector

The differences between building inspectors and code inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a building inspector and a code inspector. Additionally, a building inspector has an average salary of $51,781, which is higher than the $49,224 average annual salary of a code inspector.

The top three skills for a building inspector include plumbing, customer service and building construction. The most important skills for a code inspector are code violations, plumbing, and patrol.

Building inspector vs code inspector overview

Building InspectorCode Inspector
Yearly salary$51,781$49,224
Hourly rate$24.89$23.67
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs20,96216,664
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age5050
Years of experience66

Building inspector vs code inspector salary

Building inspectors and code inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Building InspectorCode Inspector
Average salary$51,781$49,224
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $84,000Between $33,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAOxnard, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyIcma-rcArlington County, VA
Best paying industryTechnologyGovernment

Differences between building inspector and code inspector education

There are a few differences between a building inspector and a code inspector in terms of educational background:

Building InspectorCode Inspector
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorBusinessCriminal Justice
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University

Building inspector vs code inspector demographics

Here are the differences between building inspectors' and code inspectors' demographics:

Building InspectorCode Inspector
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 88.9% Female, 11.1%Male, 69.3% Female, 30.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between building inspector and code inspector duties and responsibilities

Building inspector example responsibilities.

  • Lead site excavations, form structuring, and supervise concrete pours.
  • Manage high volume case assignments to a final disposition of abatement, civil summons, criminal arrests or referral.
  • Work from ladders, hanging scaffolding, boats, and from the bucket of snooper and bucket trucks.
  • Assist in roofing and carpentry.
  • Administer FEMA floodplain and mitigation efforts.
  • Work orders for HVAC and architectural contractors.
  • Show more

Code inspector example responsibilities.

  • Manage high volume case assignments to a final disposition of abatement, civil summons, criminal arrests or referral.
  • Train newly hire plumbing inspectors with obtaining knowledge of WSSC policies and procedures.
  • Produce quality notifications on installation procedures and vendor products in order to meet engineering criteria and FAA guidelines.
  • Appear in court for subpoenas regarding citations issues.
  • Conduct investigation inspection on HUD construct manufactured homes.

Building inspector vs code inspector skills

Common building inspector skills
  • Plumbing, 14%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Building Construction, 9%
  • Ladders, 8%
  • Construction Sites, 5%
  • Code Violations, 5%
Common code inspector skills
  • Code Violations, 12%
  • Plumbing, 8%
  • Patrol, 7%
  • Building Codes, 7%
  • Life Safety, 6%
  • City Codes, 6%

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