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Building inspector vs electrical inspector

The differences between building inspectors and electrical 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 an electrical inspector. Additionally, a building inspector has an average salary of $51,781, which is higher than the $43,943 average annual salary of an electrical inspector.

The top three skills for a building inspector include plumbing, customer service and building construction. The most important skills for an electrical inspector are inspection reports, electrical equipment, and electrical code.

Building inspector vs electrical inspector overview

Building InspectorElectrical Inspector
Yearly salary$51,781$43,943
Hourly rate$24.89$21.13
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs20,96242,321
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age5050
Years of experience66

What does a building inspector do?

A building inspector is responsible for inspecting the safety and security of the building location, including its structural quality and construction documents. Building inspectors coordinate with landowners or institutions to verify code regulations compliance and submit work orders and permits. They also provide expense forecasting for development, identifying cost-reduction techniques by recommending trusted suppliers and third-party vendors on construction materials with the highest quality. A building inspector must have excellent communication and analytical skills, especially on negotiating contracts and processing occupation permits.

What does an electrical inspector do?

An electrical inspector ensures that an establishment's wiring and other electrical components are working properly and hazard free for those who will occupy the space. The tasks of being an electrical inspector include determining electrical hazards and checking if there are any uncovered permanent or if there are any outdated wiring. They test the safety switches and examine the power box, and test the place's lighting and source of power. Their responsibilities may involve the evaluation of the electrical service's level especially the DIY wiring and noting and testing of smoke alarm location. Also, they make sure that all electrical items in the area comply with government regulations.

Building inspector vs electrical inspector salary

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

Building InspectorElectrical Inspector
Average salary$51,781$43,943
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $84,000Between $28,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAHollister, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyIcma-rcCity of Detroit
Best paying industryTechnologyConstruction

Differences between building inspector and electrical inspector education

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

Building InspectorElectrical Inspector
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversityPurdue University

Building inspector vs electrical inspector demographics

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

Building InspectorElectrical Inspector
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 88.9% Female, 11.1%Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8%
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, 8.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between building inspector and electrical 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.
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Electrical inspector example responsibilities.

  • Manage high volume case assignments to a final disposition of abatement, civil summons, criminal arrests or referral.
  • Observe and in force all NEC and OSHA requirement for the duration of the project.
  • Repair mechanical and electrical components according to OSHA safety regulations.
  • Verify the installation of all material as per clients specs and to NEC code.
  • Conduct skil technical building code inspections and apply practices of building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical.
  • Program and troubleshoot verses types PLC's & HMI's systems and automatic transfer switches for generator control systems.
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Building inspector vs electrical inspector skills

Common building inspector skills
  • Plumbing, 14%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Building Construction, 9%
  • Ladders, 8%
  • Construction Sites, 5%
  • Code Violations, 5%
Common electrical inspector skills
  • Inspection Reports, 8%
  • Electrical Equipment, 7%
  • Electrical Code, 7%
  • Electrical Installation, 6%
  • OSHA, 6%
  • Electrical Construction, 5%

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