Construction Inspectors

Employers

Construction and building inspectors hold about 142,600 jobs. About 39 percent are employed by government agencies, with most working in local government. An additional 17 percent are employed in the engineering services industry. Inspectors employed at the federal level work for such agencies as the Department of Defense or the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and the Interior. Approximately 4 percent of construction and building inspectors are self employed.

Starting Out

People without postsecondary education usually enter the construction industry as a trainee or apprentice. Graduates of technical schools or colleges of construction and engineering can expect to start work as an engineering aide, drafter, estimator, or assistant engineer. Jobs may be found through school career services offices, employment agencies, and unions or by applying directly to contracting company personnel offices. Application may also be made directly to the employment offices of the federal, state, or local governments.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that "larger jurisdictions usually hire specialized inspectors with knowledge in a particular area of construction, such as electrical or plumbing. Conversely, for budgetary reasons, smaller jurisdictions typically prefer to hire combination inspectors with broad knowledge of multiple disciplines."