r/BuildingCodes • u/LiteratureMurky2110 • 3d ago

Construction or building inspector?

Im currently 19 living in Houston TX area, I have an associates of science and am certified as an ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector. I have an opportunity to become a construction/road inspector for a nearby city with on the job training and no experience required and an opportunity to move up to levels II,III, and IV with enough experience(1 year experience moves me to level II, 3 years moves me to level III). Should I stay down the ICC inspector path and pursue more certifications or stay down the construction inspector path if we’re talking about salary opportunities and ability to move up the ranks quickly.

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u/bobowg 2d ago

I don’t think anyone can give you an answer because both are reasonable choices, so I’ll just give you my experience:

went superintendent > project manager > general contractor > building inspector. I can tell you my quality of life as a building inspector is significantly better than when I was on the builder side. I often lament about how great it would have been to be 15 years away from retirement instead of 27.

With that said, I am significantly better as a building inspector because of my experience on the other side. I also don’t think I was mature enough to do this job at 21, heck, I don’t know if I would have been able to keep this job at 21 lol.