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Central Minnesota's Game of Careers

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Inspector

Description of job: Inspectors evaluate structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing. Inspections happen both during the construction process (building inspection) and when buying/selling a home (home inspection).

Home inspectors also help buyers learn about major and minor issues with a home before purchasing it.

inspections can uncover potentially life-threatening problems like mold or faulty wiring that could cause a significant fire. Home inspectors look at the exterior and interior parts of the home, including but not limited to electrical, plumbing, roofing, HVAC, and foundation. Many lenders won’t offer financing on a home without an inspection.

Also known as: Associate Architect,  Building Code Administrator,  Engineering Technician,  Building Mechanical Engineer,  Construction Project Supervisor,  Building Inspector,  Plumbing Inspector

Related Careers: Real Estate Brokers, Real Estate Agents, Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators, Real Estate Appraisers and Assessors

Sources: Minnesota CAREERwise & CareerOneStop
Typical Job ActivitiesSkills & KnowledgeAve Wage/Job OutlookEducation & Training

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

  • Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
  • Evaluate projects to determine compliance with technical specifications.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure proper installation.
  • Inspect industrial or commercial equipment to ensure proper operation.
  • Inspect plumbing systems or fixtures.
  • Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards.
  • Test air quality at work sites.
  • Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
  • Verify alignment of structures or equipment.
  • Record operational or environmental data.

Typical Working Conditions:

  • Having telephone conversations.
  • Working outdoors exposed to weather.
  • Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
  • Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
  • The importance of being accurate or exact.
  • Meeting strict deadlines.
  • Dealing with external customers.
  • Working in extremely bright or not enough lighting.
  • Exposure to high places.

Tools & Technology used by Inspectors

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Inspectors

  • Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Controlling Quality—Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Making Decisions—Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Mathematics—Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Writing—Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Learning New Things—Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Inspectors

  • Building and Construction—Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Design—Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Clerical—Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

  • Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional—Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Wages Per Hour For Inspectors (MN)
Low

$30.27

Median

$38.69

High

$47.76

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is high growth compared to other careers. There will be a need for about 1,629 new Construction and Building Inspectors to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career requires at least a high school degree, but most professionals have an Associates or Bachelors degree. This career does require a state license, as well as licenses for some specific home features, like wells or asbestos.

View the local post-secondary education options from our partners: Central Lakes College & MSTATE.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

  • Business Computer Applications
  • Business Law
  • Cultural/Ethnic Studies
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Marketing
  • Political Science
  • Project Management
  • Public Speaking
  • Technical Writing
  • U.S. Government
  • World Languages

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Industry Partners

Real Estate Related Careers
Learn more about the careers listed below:

  • Real Estate Investor
  • Real Estate Agent (Residential & Commercial)
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Real Estate Developer
  • Real Estate Wholesaler
  • Property Manager
  • Real Estate Attorney
  • Home Inspector
  • Leasing Agent
  • Real Estate Assistant
  • Real Estate Marketing Specialist
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Real Estate Loan Officer
  • Mortgage Broker
  • Real Estate Appraiser

National Association of Realtor’s “That’s Who We Are” Campaign Ad

 

Videos
Building Inspector (BC’s Career Trek)

Additional Resources
Greater Lakes Realtors Assoc
Minnesota Realtors
National Assoc of Realtors

 

Explore Other Construction & Trade Careers

  • Appraiser
  • Architect
  • Carpenter
  • Civil Engineer
  • Civil Engineer Technician
  • Construction Laborer
  • Electrician
  • HVAC Tech
  • Inspector
  • Interior Designer
  • Landscaper
  • Mason
  • Plumber
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Surveyor
  • Title Examiner
  • Utility Lineman
  • Construction & Trades

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FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS

PARTNERS

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FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS

This virtual career exploration experience is financially supported in part by Sourcewell and the Central Minnesota Perkins Consortium, with the partnership of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber and  Central Lakes College.


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Bridges/Brainerd Lakes Chamber
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