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The differences between building officials 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 official and a residential building inspector. Additionally, a residential building inspector has an average salary of $48,597, 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 residential building inspector are sketch, windows, and plumbing.
| Building Official | Residential Building Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $46,398 | $48,597 |
| Hourly rate | $22.31 | $23.36 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 4,912 | 28,745 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| 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 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 officials and residential building inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Building Official | Residential Building Inspector | |
| Average salary | $46,398 | $48,597 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $89,000 | Between $28,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Riverside, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | University of California | - |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a building official and a residential building inspector in terms of educational background:
| Building Official | Residential Building Inspector | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | 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 officials' and residential building inspectors' demographics:
| Building Official | Residential Building Inspector | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 87.6% Female, 12.4% |
| 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, 12.8% Asian, 3.4% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |