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Home inspector vs code enforcement officer

The differences between home inspectors and code enforcement officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a home inspector has an average salary of $51,264, which is higher than the $40,706 average annual salary of a code enforcement officer.

The top three skills for a home inspector include crawl spaces, pest control and plumbing. The most important skills for a code enforcement officer are patrol, public safety, and community development.

Home inspector vs code enforcement officer overview

Home InspectorCode Enforcement Officer
Yearly salary$51,264$40,706
Hourly rate$24.65$19.57
Growth rate-4%3%
Number of jobs55,491104,295
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age5040
Years of experience6-

What does a home inspector do?

A home inspector is primarily in charge of performing inspections and assessments to identify problem areas and potential risks. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their line of work or company of employment, it usually includes studying and assessing the structural elements of houses such as its floors and ceilings, testing the alarm or fire detecting equipment, inspecting drainage and pipe systems, and checking appliances should there be any. Moreover, a home inspector produces detailed reports along with recommendations to help the clients in making decisions.

What does a code enforcement officer do?

Code enforcement officers are professionals who work for the government to ensure that properties within their jurisdiction are following the zoning laws and building ordinances of a city, town, or county. These officers are required to inspect properties and record violations as part of their regular assessment or in response to complaints. They must explain to property owners about building codes and zoning laws so that they can avoid confusion and increase awareness of all violations. Code enforcement officers must also keep records of case violations and complaints while submitting the summary reports to their supervisors.

Home inspector vs code enforcement officer salary

Home inspectors and code enforcement officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Home InspectorCode Enforcement Officer
Average salary$51,264$40,706
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $82,000Between $29,000 And $56,000
Highest paying City-San Rafael, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-King County
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between home inspector and code enforcement officer education

There are a few differences between a home inspector and a code enforcement officer in terms of educational background:

Home InspectorCode Enforcement Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessCriminal Justice
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversityCalifornia State University - Bakersfield

Home inspector vs code enforcement officer demographics

Here are the differences between home inspectors' and code enforcement officers' demographics:

Home InspectorCode Enforcement Officer
Average age5040
Gender ratioMale, 85.7% Female, 14.3%Male, 67.3% Female, 32.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 12.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 3.2% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage5%7%

Differences between home inspector and code enforcement officer duties and responsibilities

Home inspector example responsibilities.

  • Lead site excavations, form structuring, and supervise concrete pours.
  • Perform weekly boiler inspections at several APS schools
  • Perform NDT MPI/ LPI inspections on MWD and LWD tools used in the oil and gas industry.
  • Drive company vehicle to preset locations to meet with roofing contractors for final inspections for issuance of final warranties.
  • Test materials to make sure they are in conformance with ASHTO and ASTM and the Maryland book of standards.
  • Read structural blueprints to verify pile placement, inspect piles according to ASTM standards and record the driving depth.
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Code enforcement officer example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
  • Review variance, special use and any land use applications.
  • Review plans and specifications for zoning, parking and setback requirements.
  • Enforce city and state ordinances, patrol city for violations against the city building code and animal laws.
  • Patrol assign areas within the city limits while operating a city vehicle to enforce nuisance and property maintenance codes.
  • Create simulations for force-on-force firearms training/defensive tactics for customers and train the trainers at Police/Sheriff departments.
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Home inspector vs code enforcement officer skills

Common home inspector skills
  • Crawl Spaces, 17%
  • Pest Control, 14%
  • Plumbing, 12%
  • Inspection Reports, 8%
  • Inspection Services, 7%
  • Safety Issues, 6%
Common code enforcement officer skills
  • Patrol, 12%
  • Public Safety, 7%
  • Community Development, 5%
  • Municipal Codes, 4%
  • Code Compliance, 4%
  • Plumbing, 4%

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