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The differences between building officials and plans examiners 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 official and a plans examiner. Additionally, a plans examiner has an average salary of $59,697, which is higher than the $46,398 average annual salary of a building official.
The top three skills for a building official include community development, code compliance and plumbing. The most important skills for a plans examiner are plumbing, customer service, and life safety.
| Building Official | Plans Examiner | |
| Yearly salary | $46,398 | $59,697 |
| Hourly rate | $22.31 | $28.70 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 4,912 | 4,018 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A building official has the authority to enforce building codes within their jurisdiction. Usually working for government agencies, a building official is in charge of conducting building inspections to determine if the construction complies with the safety standards and regulations. They may also approve or deny permit applications, review requirements, and verify documents. Moreover, a building official also has managerial office duties such as supervising and leading staff to reach goals, setting daily objectives and guidelines, establishing timelines, delegating responsibilities among teams, and implementing policies and regulations.
A plans examiner is typically in charge of evaluating construction or work plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and zoning ordinances. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering and reviewing applications and documentation, verifying the accuracy and authenticity of requirements, and assuring that they adhere to the safety policies and standards. Furthermore, as a plans examiner, it is essential to liaise with clients and other officials, maintain records of all transactions, and provide advice on whether the applications are suitable for permits.
Building officials and plans examiners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Building Official | Plans Examiner | |
| Average salary | $46,398 | $59,697 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $89,000 | Between $41,000 And $85,000 |
| Highest paying City | Riverside, CA | Fairfield, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | University of California | Icma-rc |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a building official and a plans examiner in terms of educational background:
| Building Official | Plans Examiner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Architecture |
| Most common college | San Diego State University | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities |
Here are the differences between building officials' and plans examiners' demographics:
| Building Official | Plans Examiner | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |