Code official vs field inspector

The differences between code officials and field 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 code official and a field inspector. Additionally, a code official has an average salary of $54,026, which is higher than the $49,794 average annual salary of a field inspector.

The top three skills for a code official include plumbing, construction projects and code compliance. The most important skills for a field inspector are customer service, sketch, and inspection reports.

Code official vs field inspector overview

	Code Official	Field Inspector
Yearly salary	$54,026	$49,794
Hourly rate	$25.97	$23.94
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	324	60,866
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age	50	50
Years of experience	6	6

Code official vs field inspector salary

Code officials and field inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Code Official	Field Inspector
Average salary	$54,026	$49,794
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $83,000	Between $31,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City	-	Anaheim, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Cohesity
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between code official and field inspector education

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

	Code Official	Field Inspector
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	San Diego State University	San Diego State University

Code official vs field inspector demographics

Here are the differences between code officials' and field inspectors' demographics:

	Code Official	Field Inspector
Average age	50	50
Gender ratio	Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4%	Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between code official and field inspector duties and responsibilities

Code official example responsibilities.

Manage high volume case assignments to a final disposition of abatement, civil summons, criminal arrests or referral.
Perform plumbing, electric, building, and HVAC inspections for residential and commercial projects.
Retrieve patients' information from internal system, distribute proper reports to physicians and other materials to corresponding departments.
Conduct investigation inspection on HUD construct manufactured homes.

Field inspector example responsibilities.

Manage RFI files and records.
Manage and inspect fiber optic cable placement, fiber drop installations and associate construction activities for an assign OSP project.
Conduct tests such as, but not limit to, all common ACI field tests, all common ASTM laboratory tests.
Inspect the exterior and interior, including attach buildings, plumbing, HVAC systems, electrical system, attic and roof.
Perform interior and exterior BPO's.
Utilize ArcMap software to generate GIS mapping.

Code official vs field inspector skills

Common code official skills

Plumbing, 18%
Construction Projects, 12%
Code Compliance, 12%
Plan Review, 10%
Fire Protection, 8%
Building Codes, 8%

Common field inspector skills

Customer Service, 18%
Sketch, 11%
Inspection Reports, 6%
Asphalt, 5%
Ladders, 5%
GPS, 4%