What is a home inspector and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
introduction image

A home inspector evaluates the condition of a property. They provide a comprehensive report that includes information about the house's structural integrity, electrical and plumbing systems, roofing, and safety. The inspector examines the property, from the foundation to the roof, looking for any signs of damage or potential safety hazards. They use specialized tools and equipment, such as moisture meters, infrared cameras, and carbon monoxide detectors. A home inspector can help homebuyers make informed decisions.

ScoreHome InspectorUS Average
Salary
4.0

Avg. Salary $51,264

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.4

Growth Rate -4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.88%

Asian 3.35%

Black or African American 8.06%

Hispanic or Latino 12.77%

Unknown 5.74%

White 69.19%

Gender

female 14.35%

male 85.65%

Age - 52
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52
Stress Level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.4

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.4

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Home Inspector?

Pros

  • Potential for high income

  • High demand for home inspectors

  • Growing industry with potential for career advancement

  • Ability to start own business

  • Opportunity to work outdoors and stay active

Cons

  • Physically demanding job

  • Exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos and mold

  • Inconsistent workload and income

  • May require travel or working in uncomfortable environments (e.g. crawl spaces, attics)

  • Constantly changing industry standards and requirements can be challenging to keep up with

Home Inspector career paths

Key steps to become a home inspector

  1. Explore home inspector education requirements

    Most common home inspector degrees

    Bachelor's

    44.6 %

    Associate

    27.1 %

    High School Diploma

    12.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific home inspector skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Crawl Spaces17.48%
    Pest Control13.73%
    Plumbing11.86%
    Inspection Reports8.42%
    Inspection Services6.52%
  3. Complete relevant home inspector training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New home inspectors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a home inspector based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real home inspector resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed home inspector usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed home inspector in most of states. 25 states require home inspectors to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    State
    ascdesc
    Education
    ascdesc
    Exam
    ascdesc
    License Url
    ascdesc
    Alabama--Licensed Home Inspector
    Alaska-State exam requiredHome Inspectors
    ArkansasDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredHome Inspector
    ConnecticutDegree requiredState exam requiredHome Inspector
    DelawareSpecific course requiredState exam requiredHome Inspector
  5. Research home inspector duties and responsibilities

    • Lead site excavations, form structuring, and supervise concrete pours.
    • Perform weekly boiler inspections at several APS schools
    • Perform NDT MPI/ LPI inspections on MWD and LWD tools used in the oil and gas industry.
    • Drive company vehicle to preset locations to meet with roofing contractors for final inspections for issuance of final warranties.
  6. Prepare your home inspector resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your home inspector resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a home inspector resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Home Inspector Resume templates

    Build a professional Home Inspector resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Home Inspector resume.
    Home Inspector Resume
    Home Inspector Resume
    Home Inspector Resume
    Home Inspector Resume
    Home Inspector Resume
    Home Inspector Resume
    Home Inspector Resume
    Home Inspector Resume
    Home Inspector Resume
  7. Apply for home inspector jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a home inspector job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Home Inspector Job

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Average home inspector salary

The average Home Inspector salary in the United States is $51,264 per year or $25 per hour. Home inspector salaries range between $32,000 and $82,000 per year.

Average Home Inspector Salary
$51,264 Yearly
$24.65 hourly

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How do home inspectors rate their job?

5/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Home Inspector reviews

profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2021
Pros

It gives me the opportunity to observe and evaluate systems I haven’t seen, and to set my own schedule. I like spontaneous situations so being a home inspector is perfect for my job choice.

Cons

Being a home inspector means at some point, an individual involved with the sell of the property, will try to influence the outcome.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

I recommend this job as one of the best in America! You can often schedule around things in your life, and create an awesome Work/Life balance. One of the things not mentioned in the review above is the windshield time. Some days I spend more time behind the wheel of my car than I do doing the work. So you have to love travel/driving. You also need to be able to communicate in writing your findings in a way that can be understood by anyone reading your reports. So about a 10th grade reading/writing level is what I expect from my subordinates. Knowledge comes with training, time and experience. Most companies I have had an opportunity to evaluate do a poor job of training their field inspectors.

Cons

The most difficult part of the job if finding the time to write out coherent reports in a timely manner. I try to get mine completed in less than 2 weeks from the visit. But some visits may have reports that can take 4-6 hours to complete accurately. I work with large and small employers and everything in between. Even after decades of working I sometimes run into things I have never seen before, so I often find myself researching and reaching out to colleagues for insight. ( for instance, I was once set to do a Worker's Comp evaluation on employees working on a monkey farm. So a lot of research on live stock and specific hazards that go along with working with that specific type of animal.) It has never gotten old or boring, that's for sure.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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