What Does a Maintenance Inspector Do?
A maintenance inspector examines buildings, equipment, and systems to identify maintenance needs, safety hazards, and code violations, ensuring facilities remain safe and in proper working condition.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Building Code Administrator, Building Inspector, Building Official, Code Enforcement Officer, Code Inspector, Combination Building Inspector, Construction Inspector, Electrical Inspector.
Maintenance Inspector Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a maintenance inspector include:
- Inspect buildings and facilities for maintenance needs and safety issues
- Examine mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for deficiencies
- Document inspection findings and prepare detailed reports
- Recommend repairs, replacements, and preventive maintenance actions
- Verify that maintenance work meets quality standards and codes
- Review work orders and track maintenance completion
- Conduct follow-up inspections after repairs are completed
- Ensure compliance with building codes and safety regulations
- Prioritize maintenance needs based on urgency and safety impact
- Coordinate with maintenance teams on scheduling and resource needs
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a maintenance inspector, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Knowledge of building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, structural)
- Inspection and assessment skills
- Understanding of building codes and safety regulations
- Report writing and documentation abilities
- Attention to detail for identifying deficiencies
- Communication for coordinating with maintenance teams
- Organizational skills for tracking multiple inspections
- Problem-solving for recommending appropriate solutions
Education and Training
A high school diploma with building maintenance experience. Trade certifications in HVAC, electrical, or plumbing are valuable. Some positions require building inspector certification. An associate's degree in facilities management is beneficial.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $58,860 - $94,710 per year, with a median of $74,690.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Construction and Building Inspectors.
Maintenance inspectors are needed by property management companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. Advancement to facilities manager, chief inspector, or maintenance director is a typical career path.
Maintenance Inspector Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $47,140 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $58,860 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $74,690 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $94,710 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $114,200 |
Highest-Paying States for Maintenance Inspectors
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Alaska ($102,410), California ($101,290), Connecticut ($98,670), Washington ($96,140), Minnesota ($88,670). Pay is lowest in South Carolina ($58,840), Arkansas ($52,700), Mississippi ($50,250).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,300 |
| Alaska | $102,410 |
| Arizona | $73,440 |
| Arkansas | $52,700 |
| California | $101,290 |
| Colorado | $79,950 |
| Connecticut | $98,670 |
| Delaware | $72,700 |
| District of Columbia | $86,200 |
| Florida | $68,170 |
| Georgia | $65,980 |
| Hawaii | $79,320 |
| Idaho | $63,570 |
| Illinois | $78,340 |
| Indiana | $62,850 |
| Iowa | $71,630 |
| Kansas | $63,150 |
| Kentucky | $60,200 |
| Louisiana | $68,260 |
| Maine | $74,670 |
| Maryland | $76,640 |
| Massachusetts | $83,200 |
| Michigan | $71,040 |
| Minnesota | $88,670 |
| Mississippi | $50,250 |
| Missouri | $62,970 |
| Montana | $75,700 |
| Nebraska | $65,000 |
| Nevada | $75,290 |
| New Hampshire | $65,640 |
| New Jersey | $81,760 |
| New Mexico | $65,420 |
| New York | $79,460 |
| North Carolina | $66,080 |
| North Dakota | $78,570 |
| Ohio | $74,490 |
| Oklahoma | $59,280 |
| Oregon | $84,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,870 |
| Rhode Island | $77,420 |
| South Carolina | $58,840 |
| South Dakota | $64,940 |
| Tennessee | $59,870 |
| Texas | $64,810 |
| Utah | $74,130 |
| Vermont | $66,580 |
| Virginia | $75,660 |
| Washington | $96,140 |
| West Virginia | $64,000 |
| Wisconsin | $75,610 |
| Wyoming | $61,870 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as construction and building inspectors about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 96% use email every day
- 92% are on the phone every day
- 80% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 72% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 68% have a lot of freedom to make decisions
- 64% work outdoors in all kinds of weather every day
- 64% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 36% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 36% |
| Bachelor's degree | 16% |
Tools and Software Maintenance Inspectors Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Knowledge areas used most: Building and Construction, Public Safety and Security, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Design.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 47-4011.00 (Construction and Building Inspectors). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.