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What is a field inspector and how to become one
A field inspector is hired by banks, loan companies, and insurance organizations, with the primary aim of determining the condition of a specific piece of land so that the organization can decide if a loan or insurance policy can be given out. They do this by providing visual inspections by taking photos of a location and writing reports for banks and companies to estimate a property's value.
A field inspector's duties vary by the type of inspection but generally include driving to a location, performing a visual inspection, taking photos, and writing a report. For lenders and banks, field inspectors perform appraisals with an exterior examination and photo documentation. Field inspectors commonly perform property preservation or winterization duties, including changing locks, boarding windows, draining water heaters, and shutting off the water supply to a building or house.
Field services companies generally do not have strict formal education requirements and often offer on-the-job training. Inspectors need to have basic proficiency with technology, good communication skills, and be able to search public property records. The average hourly salary for holding this position is $30.55, which amounts to $63,543 annually. The career is projected to grow 7% in the following years.
Avg. Salary $49,794
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.90%
Asian 3.43%
Black or African American 8.42%
Hispanic or Latino 13.15%
Unknown 5.75%
White 68.35%
Genderfemale 22.38%
male 77.62%
Age - 52American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 52Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Field inspector career paths
Key steps to become a field inspector
Explore field inspector education requirements
Start to develop specific field inspector skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 17.94% Sketch 10.71% Inspection Reports 5.61% Asphalt 5.04% Ladders 4.67% Complete relevant field inspector training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New field inspectors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a field inspector based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real field inspector resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed field inspector usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed field inspector in most of states. 25 states require field inspectors to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Alabama - - Licensed Home Inspector Alaska - State exam required Home Inspectors Arkansas Degree required Third-party exam required Home Inspector Connecticut Degree required State exam required Home Inspector Delaware Specific course required State exam required Home Inspector Research field inspector duties and 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.
Prepare your field inspector resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your field inspector resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a field inspector resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable field inspector resume templates
Build a professional field inspector resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your field inspector resume.
Apply for field inspector jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a field inspector job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first field inspector job
Are you a field inspector?
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Average field inspector salary
The average field inspector salary in the United States is $49,794 per year or $24 per hour. Field inspector salaries range between $31,000 and $79,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do field inspectors rate their job?
Field inspector reviews
It gives me the opportunity to observe and evaluate systems I haven’t seen, and to set my own schedule. I like spontaneous situations so being a home inspector is perfect for my job choice.
I recommend this job as one of the best in America! You can often schedule around things in your life, and create an awesome Work/Life balance. One of the things not mentioned in the review above is the windshield time. Some days I spend more time behind the wheel of my car than I do doing the work. So you have to love travel/driving. You also need to be able to communicate in writing your findings in a way that can be understood by anyone reading your reports. So about a 10th grade reading/writing level is what I expect from my subordinates. Knowledge comes with training, time and experience. Most companies I have had an opportunity to evaluate do a poor job of training their field inspectors.
The most difficult part of the job if finding the time to write out coherent reports in a timely manner. I try to get mine completed in less than 2 weeks from the visit. But some visits may have reports that can take 4-6 hours to complete accurately. I work with large and small employers and everything in between. Even after decades of working I sometimes run into things I have never seen before, so I often find myself researching and reaching out to colleagues for insight. ( for instance, I was once set to do a Worker's Comp evaluation on employees working on a monkey farm. So a lot of research on live stock and specific hazards that go along with working with that specific type of animal.) It has never gotten old or boring, that's for sure.
Updated January 8, 2025
