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The differences between property inspectors and building inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a property inspector, becoming a building inspector takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a building inspector has an average salary of $51,781, which is higher than the $48,547 average annual salary of a property inspector.
The top three skills for a property inspector include property inspections, property management and digital photos. The most important skills for a building inspector are plumbing, customer service, and building construction.
| Property Inspector | Building Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $48,547 | $51,781 |
| Hourly rate | $23.34 | $24.89 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 22,804 | 20,962 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
If you own a home and in a relatively nice neighborhood, then it's likely that your place was inspected and approved by a property inspector. Also called Home Inspectors, these people are responsible for evaluating both old and new properties whether they adhere to local policies, permits, and regulations. They also inspect residential structures for defects, violations, and other factors that may affect one's home's safety and value. Before purchasing a home, buyers will generally require a Property Inspector's advice before closing a deal.
A building inspector is responsible for inspecting the safety and security of the building location, including its structural quality and construction documents. Building inspectors coordinate with landowners or institutions to verify code regulations compliance and submit work orders and permits. They also provide expense forecasting for development, identifying cost-reduction techniques by recommending trusted suppliers and third-party vendors on construction materials with the highest quality. A building inspector must have excellent communication and analytical skills, especially on negotiating contracts and processing occupation permits.
Property inspectors and building inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Property Inspector | Building Inspector | |
| Average salary | $48,547 | $51,781 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $72,000 | Between $31,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Icma-rc |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a property inspector and a building inspector in terms of educational background:
| Property Inspector | Building Inspector | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between property inspectors' and building inspectors' demographics:
| Property Inspector | Building Inspector | |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.8% Female, 33.2% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 5% |