Building inspector job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed building inspectors about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed building inspectors about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Detail-oriented
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Practical
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Organising
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a building inspector
Building inspection is an essential and highly skilled job with defined systems and processes that must be followed correctly.
So, what are some of a building inspector’s responsibilities?
- Issuing building permits before work begins
- Conducting inspections of building work at various construction stages
- Creating written inspection records
- Documenting and reporting on building works that fail inspection
- Giving verbal direction to fix building work that doesn't comply with building regulations (if authorised by the building surveyor)
- Estimating time scales and calculating costs
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
High paying
Because the role as a building inspector is a huge responsibility, is very detail-oriented and requires high-level skills and knowledge, the annual salary in Australia can be pretty high (up to $118,798)
Enjoyable
The role of a building inspector involves being on-site and many practical hands-on tasks to ensure building standards are met, and communication with a lot of other professionals. This can make your day at work diverse and exciting.
Job security
The construction industry has a projected growth rate of 2.4% annually over the next five years. Building inspectors make up a significant proportion of the workforce needed to sustain this sector and will be required as long as buildings are constructed.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a building inspector
Building inspectors work in many regions of Australia, and around 85% of roles are full-time. The industry has seen substantial growth in the last five years.
The construction industry is heavily regulated, and the VET sector plays an important role in its occupations.
The average building inspector’s salary is $107,588.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
A job as a building inspector is highly skilled and often a great choice for a long term career. But, it can also offer opportunities to enter higher-level roles or provide a pathway into other careers within the construction industry.
Where a building inspector’s career path could lead:
Junior
-
Trade assistant
Most common qualification:
Cert II in Construction (CPC20120) -
Pipelayer
Most common qualification:
Certificate III in Civil Construction (Pipe Laying) (RII30920) -
Road construction worker
Most common qualification:
Certificate III in Civil Construction (Road Construction and Maintenance) (RII30920) -
Traffic controller
Most common qualification:
Certificate III in Civil Construction (Traffic Management) (RII30920)
Mid
-
Builder
Most common qualification:
Certificate IV in Building and Construction (CPC40120) -
Electrician
Most common qualification:
Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820) -
Construction estimator
Most common qualification:
Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) (CPC40120) -
Building inspector
Most common qualification:
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) (CPC50220) -
Construction site foreman
Most common qualification:
Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) (CPC40120) -
Contract administrator
Most common qualification:
Certificate IV in Building Project Support (Contract Administrator) (CPC40320)
Senior
-
Construction project manager
Most common qualification:
Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) (CPC50320) -
Construction manager
Most common qualification:
Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) (CPC50320) -
Quantity surveyor
Most common qualification:
Bachelor of Construction Management
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
A job as a building inspector requires practical skills but the natural soft skills you can bring to the table are just as critical. These skills can be developed over time or are abilities we have always had.
Natural building inspector skills:
Attention to detail
Inspecting buildings in intricate ways and then problem solving small issues to ensure they meet standards and regulations requires great attention to detail.
Punctual
As a building inspector, you are responsible for a section of construction projects that need to fit in with other important elements. You must stick to a timeline and produce work and results when needed.
Organised
To follow the processes and regulations required for a job as a building inspector, high levels of organisation are needed to ensure you do an efficient job and you can work on more than one project at a time.
Communication skills
A role in building inspecting requires communication with clients, builders, building consultants and many other stakeholders in a project. Good communication skills are vital so that all parties are clear on what needs to be done for successful outcomes.
How to become a building inspector
-
Study
You need to hold the relevant qualifications to become a building inspector. Courses are available through accredited VET providers or universities to gain the qualifications required.
-
Get a licence if required
Each state in Australia has varying requirements for licensing within the construction industry. Check with your state’s government website to determine if you need to acquire one and the minimum required qualifications to become a licensed building inspector.
-
Get a White Card
To work on any building or construction site in Australia, you must hold a Construction Induction Card (White Card). You can get a White Card by taking a short course through an RTO (registered training organisation)
Explore related qualifications
There are two classes of building inspector, and both require specific training:
Building Inspector (Limited)
Responsible for carrying out inspections of building work for all classes of buildings (excluding buildings with basements) of up to three storeys in height with a maximum floor area of 500 square metres. Or all classes of buildings (including buildings with basements) of up to three storeys in height with a maximum floor area of up to 2000 square metres.
Building Inspector (Unlimited)
Responsible for carrying out inspections of building work in respect of all BCA classes and types of buildings of unlimited height and floor size.
Building inspector qualifications:
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) (CPC50220)
This qualification prepares the learner for a role as a building professional. It teaches skills and knowledge of structural principles, risk, management, financial management and estimating. It also covers skills in administering building plans and contracts, sourcing contractors, overseeing the work and its quality and managing construction work in building projects, including residential buildings and commercial buildings, with the following limitations:
- Residential construction limited to National Construction Code Class 1 and 10 buildings to a maximum of 3 storeys.
- Commercial construction limited to National Construction Code Class 2 to 9 buildings, Type C and B construction.
This course is available as an Australian Apprenticeship, and the fee and duration of the apprenticeship may differ in each state.
Occupational outcomes can include:
- Builder
- General Foreperson
And this qualification can be a pathway into roles in building inspection.
The average duration for this course is 18 months and can be completed full-time or part-time.
7 providers offer this course
Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying (CPC60121)
This Diploma is a qualification that prepares building surveyors or certifiers with advanced knowledge of compliance and construction methods to implement statutory building surveying requirements or for the provision of advisory building surveying services.
The scope of work for building surveyors applies to all Classes of residential and commercial buildings in the National Construction Code (NCC), up to three storeys and not exceeding 2,000 square metres in floor area.
Those who complete an Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying CPC60121 will satisfy the knowledge needed to register as a Building inspector (Limited).
*Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to building surveying in some states and territories. For further information, check with the relevant regulatory authority.
8 providers offer this course
Bachelor of Construction Management
Bachelor of Construction Management
This degree qualification takes around three years full-time to complete and teaches construction professionals the skills and practical knowledge to analyse problems and meet administrative requirements.
Skills taught include construction management and materials, economics and law, scheduling and estimating, contract administration, building and quantity surveying and sustainable construction and construction environmental science.
Career outcomes can include:
- Construction manager
- Construction project manager
- Construction supervisor
- Construction estimator
- Build surveyor
And more.
This course can be delivered in class, a combination of face-to-face and online classes, or 100% online.
Related subjects
Roles in the construction and building industry are vast and varied and require newcomers all of the time. If you would like to look at other jobs in the sector, the world is your oyster.
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Job cluster: The Artisan
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
A job as a building inspector requires excellent communication skills and solid attention to detail. The job would be perfect for a person with The Artisan career persona.
The Artisan craves stability, responsibility and an important job. They are great team players and are determined to give their all to any job they do.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
What does a building inspector do?
A building inspector carries out inspections on many types of buildings to ensure they are up to standards and the building code of Australia.
What qualifications do I need to be a building inspector?
To become a building inspector, you need a formal VET qualification or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
How long does it take to become a building inspector?
Studying to become qualified as a building inspector can take from 18 months to three years, but the relevant work experience needed or other requirements, including licensing regulations, varies depending on the state you live in.