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Real estate inspector vs building inspector

The differences between real estate inspectors and building 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 real estate inspector and a building inspector. Additionally, a real estate inspector has an average salary of $75,341, which is higher than the $51,781 average annual salary of a building inspector.

The top three skills for a real estate inspector include inspection reports, property inspections and residential real estate. The most important skills for a building inspector are plumbing, customer service, and building construction.

Real estate inspector vs building inspector overview

Real Estate InspectorBuilding Inspector
Yearly salary$75,341$51,781
Hourly rate$36.22$24.89
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs33,86320,962
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age5050
Years of experience66

Real estate inspector vs building inspector salary

Real estate inspectors and building inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Real Estate InspectorBuilding Inspector
Average salary$75,341$51,781
Salary rangeBetween $53,000 And $106,000Between $31,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Icma-rc
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between real estate inspector and building inspector education

There are a few differences between a real estate inspector and a building inspector in terms of educational background:

Real Estate InspectorBuilding Inspector
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University

Real estate inspector vs building inspector demographics

Here are the differences between real estate inspectors' and building inspectors' demographics:

Real Estate InspectorBuilding Inspector
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 83.8% Female, 16.2%Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 69.1% 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, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between real estate inspector and building inspector duties and responsibilities

Real estate inspector example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish and submit financial reports to promote positive cash flow and return on investment (ROI).
  • Perform thorough state certify inspections of electrical, plumbing, structural, and mechanical systems with a high level of integrity.
  • Inspect: electrical, plumbing, foundation, roof, appliances, mold/mildew, windows, and structural integrity.
  • Work extensively through client Argus files in completing sensitivity analyses, re-building client valuations, and reconciling assumptions.
  • Work extensively through client Argus files in completing sensitivity analyses, re-building client valuations, and reconciling assumptions.

Building inspector example responsibilities.

  • Lead site excavations, form structuring, and supervise concrete pours.
  • Manage high volume case assignments to a final disposition of abatement, civil summons, criminal arrests or referral.
  • Work from ladders, hanging scaffolding, boats, and from the bucket of snooper and bucket trucks.
  • Assist in roofing and carpentry.
  • Administer FEMA floodplain and mitigation efforts.
  • Work orders for HVAC and architectural contractors.
  • Show more

Real estate inspector vs building inspector skills

Common real estate inspector skills
  • Inspection Reports, 25%
  • Property Inspections, 22%
  • Residential Real Estate, 20%
  • Plumbing, 12%
  • HVAC, 7%
  • Ashi, 3%
Common building inspector skills
  • Plumbing, 14%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Building Construction, 9%
  • Ladders, 8%
  • Construction Sites, 5%
  • Code Violations, 5%

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