How to hire a housing inspector

How to hire a housing inspector, step by step

Here's a step-by-step housing inspector hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a housing inspector job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new housing inspector
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a housing inspector do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the housing inspector you need to hire. Certain housing inspector roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a housing inspector to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a housing inspector that fits the bill.

   This list presents housing inspector salaries for various positions.

   Type of Housing Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
   Housing Inspector	Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.	$13-36
   Plans Examiner	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... Show more	$19-40
   Construction Analyst	A Construction Analyst prepares statements, annual financial reports, exhibits, transmittal letters, schedules, statistical tables, management analysis, and management discussion. They handle business forecast analysis, cash flow projection analysis, statistical report analysis, government requirement analysis, financial plan analysis, budget analysis, and forecast analysis... Show more	$25-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Quality Standards
   • Safety Issues
   • Plumbing
   • Inspection Reports
   • Natural Disasters
   • Landlords
   • Building Codes
   • Assistance Program
   • HUD
   • Code Violations
   • Code Enforcement
   • HQS
   • Property Maintenance
   • Voucher Program

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform inspections on subsidize units to ensure each are in accordance with city code enforcement, HUD and CMHA's regulations.
   • Certify in property maintenance, residential building, residential mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
   • Repair and maintain HVAC systems.
   • Inspect home construction to include proper placement of walls, fixtures and HVAC.
   • Conduct habitability inspections per HUD standards.
   • Work on hydraulic and traction elevators and escalators.

   More housing inspector duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your housing inspector job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A housing inspector can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, housing inspectors' average salary in kentucky is 59% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level housing inspectors 62% less than senior-level housing inspectors.
   • Certifications. A housing inspector with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a housing inspector's salary.

   Average housing inspector salary

   $47,599yearly

   $22.88 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level housing inspector salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average housing inspector salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$77,752	$37
   2	New Jersey	$61,144	$29
   3	Massachusetts	$57,281	$28
   4	New York	$51,784	$25
   5	Washington	$51,074	$25
   6	Florida	$49,172	$24
   7	Michigan	$48,014	$23
   8	Minnesota	$47,761	$23
   9	Kansas	$47,521	$23
   10	Colorado	$46,400	$22
   11	Texas	$45,808	$22
   12	Virginia	$45,286	$22
   13	Illinois	$43,078	$21
   14	Missouri	$42,565	$20
   15	Ohio	$41,617	$20

   Average housing inspector salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	City of Detroit	$66,260	$31.86	4
   2	City of Los Angeles	$65,326	$31.41	3
   3	New York State Restaurant Association	$55,032	$26.46
   4	OIC of Washington	$49,722	$23.90
   5	The University of Kansas Health System	$49,034	$23.57	1
   6	Vanguard Emergency Management	$48,186	$23.17
   7	Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania	$47,972	$23.06
   8	JEFFERSON FRANKLIN COMMUNITY ACTION	$47,252	$22.72
   9	City of Collinsville	$46,807	$22.50
   10	Americorps	$46,278	$22.25	2
   11	City of Laredo	$45,852	$22.04	4
   12	City of Ann Arbor	$45,318	$21.79	8
   13	SAFEbuilt	$45,258	$21.76	59
   14	System One	$44,075	$21.19	22
   15	Vanguard Services	$42,542	$20.45
   16	Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York	$42,326	$20.35
   17	Chautauqua Opportunities	$39,174	$18.83	1

4. Writing a housing inspector job description

   A housing inspector job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a housing inspector job description:

   Housing inspector job description example

   BUILDINGS, SAFETY, ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT
   
   HOUSING INSPECTOR
   
   American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
   
   We create safe environments for city residents.
   
   The BSEED mission is to provide for the safety, health and welfare of the general public as it pertains to buildings and their environs in an efficient, cost-effective, user-friendly and professional manner.
   
   BSEED enforces construction, property maintenance, environmental compliance and zoning codes, which preserve and enhance property values and promote quality of life to make Detroit a preferred place to reside and conduct business.
   
   Inspects and reports on the condition of residential dwellings and their surroundings to ensure compliance with pertinent codes and ordinances and accepted sanitary and safety standards. Examples of Duties
   
   * Conducts required periodic inspection of all multiple buildings and systematic inspections of one and two-family dwellings.
   * Inspects residential properties offered for sale, including inspection work incident to mortgage guarantees.
   * Investigates complaints related to housing or environmental conditions.
   * Inspects the interior and exterior of buildings for unsafe or unsanitary conditions, improper structural, plumbing, electrical, heating and ventilation maintenance and signs of deterioration.
   * Determines ownership of properties in violation of property maintenance code.
   * Prepares notice of violations or refers issues to specialized inspection divisions.
   * Notes need to obtain permits for completed or contemplated repairs or alterations.
   * Interviews citizens who have filed complaints or are responsible for correction of violations and advises them on the application of legal requirements.
   * Maintains accurate records of actions taken, violations found and conditions observed.
   * Issues and serves ordinance violation notices.
   * Examines plans prior to issuance of permits for conformance to building code and zoning ordinance.
   * Refers citizens to appropriate department divisions or other City agencies.
   * Prepares and presents lectures, speeches and demonstrations on housing sanitation, maintenance and environmental standards, codes and control measures.
   * Assists in compiling reports and recommendations requested by supervisors.
   * Appears and testifies in court proceedings regarding code violations.
   * Makes recommendations on applications for certification of compliance.
   * Prepares daily activities reports.
   * Assists in training and overseeing work of new employees.
   
   Minimum Qualifications
   
   EDUCATION:
   
   * Graduation from high school.
   * Preferably completion of an apprenticeship in one of the building construction trades.
   * Preferably some advanced academic training in structural principles in an engineering, construction or related field.
   
   EXPERIENCE:
   
   * A minimum of four years of journey worker experience in the construction, repair, or alteration of residential housing or public structures.
   * Preferably experience in the supervisory or inspection phases of the work.
   * Employees in this class will be required to provide and operator a motor vehicle on a reimbursed mileage basis, a valid State of Michigan Operator license is required.
   
   EQUIVALENCY
   
   * Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.
   
   Supplemental Information
   
   Evaluation Plan
   
   * Computerized Exam: 35%
   * Interview: 35%
   * Evaluation of Training, Experience &Personal Qualifications:30%
   * Total Computerized Exam, Interview and Evaluation T.E.P:100%
   
   Additional points may be awarded for:
   
   * Veteran Points: 0 - 15 points
   * Detroit Residency Credit: 15 points
   
   This position is contingent upon the availability of the
   
   American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and/or program needs.
   
   PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
   
   * Must be able to perform essential functions of the class, including reading standard English text and drawings or plans; communicating with others in person and by telephone; making accurate observations and reducing them to writing; entering and retrieving information from computers; speaking and making public presentations; climbing and descending stairs and ladders; and entering and moving through narrow openings and crawl spaces.
   * Strength Rating: Medium.
   
   WORKING CONDITIONS:
   
   * Work is typically performed both indoors and outdoors, with exposure to all seasonal conditions and occasional exposure to dusty areas, noxious odors, heights and narrow and confined spaces.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find housing inspectors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any housing inspectors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level housing inspectors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   To find housing inspector candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as constructionjobs.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit housing inspectors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new housing inspector

   Once you've decided on a perfect housing inspector candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new housing inspector. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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