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Residential building inspector vs construction assistant

The differences between residential building inspectors and construction assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a residential building inspector has an average salary of $48,597, which is higher than the $39,072 average annual salary of a construction assistant.

The top three skills for a residential building inspector include sketch, windows and plumbing. The most important skills for a construction assistant are safety procedures, construction projects, and general contractors.

Residential building inspector vs construction assistant overview

Residential Building InspectorConstruction Assistant
Yearly salary$48,597$39,072
Hourly rate$23.36$18.78
Growth rate-4%4%
Number of jobs28,74531,209
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age5039
Years of experience6-

What does a residential building inspector do?

A residential building inspector is in charge of ensuring that residential properties comply with the national building codes and construction requirements. They visit residential establishments and conduct thorough inspections to determine if the structure complies with safety and quality standards. They are also responsible for producing reports, recommending action plans, and discussing procedures with clients. Moreover, a residential building inspector maintains an active communication line with staff, all while adhering to the agency's policies and regulations.

What does a construction assistant do?

A construction assistant performs various clerical and operational support tasks to assist construction managers and maintain smooth workflow operations. Their responsibilities usually include monitoring budgets and costs, handling calls and correspondence, purchasing construction materials according to project requirements, liaising with suppliers and construction contractors, and participating in managing the schedules and activities of the workers. A construction assistant may also perform inspections to identify problem areas and ensure that all procedures adhere to the safety codes and standards.

Residential building inspector vs construction assistant salary

Residential building inspectors and construction assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Residential Building InspectorConstruction Assistant
Average salary$48,597$39,072
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $82,000Between $28,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City-Springfield, MA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Beazer Homes
Best paying industry-Construction

Differences between residential building inspector and construction assistant education

There are a few differences between a residential building inspector and a construction assistant in terms of educational background:

Residential Building InspectorConstruction Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSan Diego State University-

Residential building inspector vs construction assistant demographics

Here are the differences between residential building inspectors' and construction assistants' demographics:

Residential Building InspectorConstruction Assistant
Average age5039
Gender ratioMale, 87.6% Female, 12.4%Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 30.8% Asian, 2.4% White, 50.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage5%2%

Differences between residential building inspector and construction assistant duties and responsibilities

Residential building inspector example responsibilities.

  • Lead site excavations, form structuring, and supervise concrete pours.
  • Perform residential building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical inspections.
  • Pass all require residential building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspector exams.
  • Conduct inspections of newly build or previously own homes, condominiums, town homes, manufacture homes.

Construction assistant example responsibilities.

  • Fix electrical fixtures and manage plumbing problems effectively.
  • Employ a wide verity of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and electronic testing devices.
  • Negotiate material sales contracts, document historical information, provide earned value management, and safety oversight for projects/programs.
  • Prepare plans and specifications for new and existing housing, supervise sub-contractors to insure compliance with HUD requirements.

Residential building inspector vs construction assistant skills

Common residential building inspector skills
  • Sketch, 39%
  • Windows, 10%
  • Plumbing, 10%
  • Residential Buildings, 9%
  • Inspection Process, 8%
  • HVAC, 6%
Common construction assistant skills
  • Safety Procedures, 15%
  • Construction Projects, 11%
  • General Contractors, 7%
  • Drywall Installation, 7%
  • Equipment Operators, 4%
  • Manual Labor, 4%

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