Construction and Building Inspectors vs First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: $75K vs $80K Median Pay

Construction and Building Inspectors vs First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: what changes?

Consider Construction and Building Inspectors if you want to inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Consider First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers if you would rather directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Construction and Building Inspectors (5 years or more) and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (5 years or more).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Construction and Building Inspectors and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Construction and Building Inspectors

National median pay (2025): $74,690
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: 5 years or more; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Approve building plans that meet required specifications.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 14,800

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Construction and Building Inspectors brief

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

National median pay (2025): $79,920
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are met.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 67,000

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers brief

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the edge on projected growth

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers is at 5% projected growth, compared with 0% projected growth for Construction and Building Inspectors.

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers is at 67,000 annual openings, compared with 14,800 annual openings for Construction and Building Inspectors.

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the edge on median pay

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers is at $79,920, compared with $74,690 for Construction and Building Inspectors.

55.4/ 100

Construction and Building Inspectors

74.2/ 100

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Construction and Building Inspectors vs First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Dimension	Construction and Building Inspectors	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Median pay (2025)	$74,690	$79,920
Pay percentile	64.7 percentile	72.1 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	0%	5%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	14,800	67,000
2025 employment	153,900	913,300
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: 5 years or more; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	Prior related experience: 5 years or more.	Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Construction and Building Inspectors brief Read First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers brief

Construction and Building Inspectors vs First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Construction and Building Inspectors

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the edge on projected growth

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the edge on median pay

Construction and Building Inspectors vs First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

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First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers vs Plumber / Pipefitter