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The differences between building inspectors and residential building 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 residential building inspector. Additionally, a building inspector has an average salary of $51,781, which is higher than the $48,597 average annual salary of a residential building inspector.
The top three skills for a building inspector include plumbing, customer service and building construction. The most important skills for a residential building inspector are sketch, windows, and plumbing.
| Building Inspector | Residential Building Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $51,781 | $48,597 |
| Hourly rate | $24.89 | $23.36 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 20,962 | 28,745 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A residential building inspector is in charge of ensuring that residential properties comply with the national building codes and construction requirements. They visit residential establishments and conduct thorough inspections to determine if the structure complies with safety and quality standards. They are also responsible for producing reports, recommending action plans, and discussing procedures with clients. Moreover, a residential building inspector maintains an active communication line with staff, all while adhering to the agency's policies and regulations.
Building inspectors and residential building inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Building Inspector | Residential Building Inspector | |
| Average salary | $51,781 | $48,597 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $84,000 | Between $28,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Icma-rc | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a building inspector and a residential building inspector in terms of educational background:
| Building Inspector | Residential Building Inspector | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | San Diego State University | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between building inspectors' and residential building inspectors' demographics:
| Building Inspector | Residential Building Inspector | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 87.6% Female, 12.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 3.4% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |