A home inspector walks a house for a buyer or seller before the sale, checking the roof, structure, wiring, plumbing and heating and cooling. They write a photo report, often the same day, that the buyer uses to ask for repairs before the inspection deadline passes.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, engineering and inspection firms · BLS, May 2025
Residential - Home Inspection - Residential Home Inspector
Company Name:
[INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE]
Department:
Operations
Reports to:
[Home Inspection Manager]
Location:
[INSERT LOCATION HERE]
1. Position Summary
Perform comprehensive residential inspections, ensuring full-scope assessments of structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and safety systems to deliver high-quality reports that protect clients and maintain industry standards.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Conduct detailed residential home inspections covering structural integrity, mechanical systems, electrical setups, plumbing infrastructures, and safety measures.
Prepare and deliver clear, concise, and timely inspection reports to clients and stakeholders.
Identify potential issues, hazards, and code violations during inspections and recommend corrective actions.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry standards, building codes, and inspection best practices.
Collaborate effectively with homeowners, realtors, and repair professionals to facilitate timely resolutions.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Schedule and complete inspection appointments within assigned timelines.
Perform on-site evaluations using industry-standard tools and techniques.
Document inspection findings meticulously and update digital reporting systems.
Communicate in real-time with clients to address immediate safety concerns and answer questions.
Follow up after inspections to discuss report findings and assist with prioritizing repairs.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Average inspection completion time: less than 4 hours per inspection.
Customer Satisfaction Rating: ≥ 4.8 stars based on post-inspection surveys.
Inspection report accuracy: achieve a 98% accuracy rate in findings.
Repeat client rate: target 20% repeat service engagements.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
High school diploma or equivalent; further technical education preferred.
Minimum of 2 years of experience in home inspection or a related technical field.
Strong analytical skills with a keen attention to detail.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proficiency with inspection tools, digital reporting software, and mobile devices.
6. Preferred Experience
Experience conducting residential or commercial property inspections.
Familiarity with current building codes, safety regulations, and industry standards.
Background in construction, architecture, or engineering is an advantage.
Experience utilizing digital inspection reporting systems and advanced tools.
Demonstrated history of excellent customer service and effective on-site assessments.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 25 lbs and transport necessary inspection tools.
Frequent walking, climbing ladders, and navigating stairs during on-site inspections.
Prolonged periods of standing and bending during detailed evaluations.
Exposure to various weather conditions across different inspection environments.
Comfort working in tight or elevated spaces while ensuring personal safety.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with occasional extended hours.
Work is performed in diverse settings, including urban, suburban, and rural locations.
Flexible schedule required to accommodate weekend or emergency inspection appointments.
Limited regional travel may be necessary to meet client needs.
Occasional overtime during high-demand inspection periods.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Competitive annual salary range from $40,000 to $55,000 USD or equivalent hourly rate.
Opportunity for performance-based bonuses and commission incentives.
Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance packages.
401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
Paid time off, sick leave, and support for continuing education initiatives.
10. Company Culture and Overview
"In [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we foster a culture of excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement. Our team is passionate about delivering high-quality home inspections and ensuring client satisfaction. We offer a supportive atmosphere where professional growth and personal development are encouraged, inspiring each team member to excel and make a meaningful impact on the community."
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
Plenty of trades walk through houses. A home inspector does it for one client, on a sale deadline, under a written standard that says what to look at and what can be left out.
A state license before solo work
Licensing differs from state to state. BLS reports that in most states, home inspectors need a state license or certificate or must follow defined trade practices. Florida, for one, requires a course of at least 120 hours on the structure, electrical, HVAC, roof, plumbing, interior, exterior and site, plus a passing exam. Check every state you serve before you post the ad. Source: Florida Statutes 468.8313: Home inspector examinations and course of study.
The standard of practice sets the scope
Each inspection follows a written standard: the state's where one exists, or an association's. These standards list what must be checked and what is left out. Texas, for example, doesn't require inspectors to judge mold, lead paint, termites or code compliance. That's why buyers add separate tests, and why your pre-inspection agreement spells out the scope. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 535.227: Texas inspector standards of practice, general provisions (Cornell LII).
Stopping where it isn't safe
Texas rules let an inspector skip an item when conditions are hazardous to their health or safety, or when checking it could damage the house. The inspector tells the client as soon as practical and writes the reason in the report. Teach new hires that a soft roof deck, a wasp nest at the attic hatch or a scorched panel cover gets a note, not a gamble. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 535.227: Texas inspector standards of practice, general provisions (Cornell LII).
Ladders at the roof edge
OSHA's ladder rule for workplaces like yours says a ladder an inspector climbs to get onto a roof needs side rails that stick up 3 feet or more past the eave. The cap and top step of a stepladder aren't for standing. Decide which roofs your inspectors walk and which they view from the ladder, a pole camera or a drone, and put that rule in training. Source: 29 CFR 1910.23: Ladders (Cornell LII).
Pre-1978 homes and lead paint
For most homes built before 1978, federal rules give the buyer a 10-day window to check for lead-based paint before the contract binds them, unless both sides agree in writing on another period or the buyer waives it. A lead inspection needs an EPA or state-authorized certification. Without one, your inspector notes chipped paint and refers the buyer. Source: 40 CFR 745.110: Buyer's opportunity to check for lead-based paint (Cornell LII).
How much home inspectors make
The closest BLS group for home inspectors is construction and building inspectors. Construction and building inspectors who work for architecture, engineering, and inspection firms earned a median of $36.22 an hour ($75,330 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about the same as the $74,690 median for construction and building inspectors in all industries. About 47,310 of the 146,720 construction and building inspectors in that survey work for engineering and inspection firms.
The template lists a yearly salary with bonuses and commission. Some inspection companies pay a fee per inspection instead. Inspectors who aren't exempt are still owed overtime on either plan.
Engineering and inspection firms
$75,330$75,330 median Middle half $59,460–$94,370 10th–90th $46,670–$120,370
All industries
$74,690$74,690 median Middle half $58,860–$94,710 10th–90th $47,140–$114,200
$25k$50k$75k$100k$125k$150k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Engineering and inspection firms
$46,670
$59,460
$75,330
$94,370
$120,370
All industries
$47,140
$58,860
$74,690
$94,710
$114,200
BLS doesn’t publish pay for home inspectors on their own. These figures cover architectural, engineering and related services, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Knows how houses are built and how roofs, wiring, plumbing and HVAC fail
Writes each defect plainly: what it is, where, why it matters and who should look at it
Stays calm and neutral with a nervous buyer and an agent in the room
Finishes a full house and its report without skipping a system
Holds the license your state requires, or can earn it on your timeline
Works carefully in attics, in crawl spaces and on ladders
Teach these on the job
Your report software and comment library
Your pre-inspection agreement and how to walk a client through it
Which add-on tests fit a given house
Your photo rules for each system
Your roof access rules, including drone or pole camera use
Inspectors carry a flashlight, moisture meter, outlet tester, voltage pen, thermal camera and ladder, and often a drone, and they build the report on a tablet in report software like Spectora, HomeGauge or Horizon. Tell candidates whether the company provides the gear and a vehicle, since some own their own kit.
Home inspector interview questions
Two of the 7 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Independence
The buyer's agent asks you to soften the wording on a roof defect because it might scare the buyer. What do you do?
A strong answer: Keeps the finding accurate and plain because the report is for the client, stays polite with the agent, and makes sure the buyer understands what was found.
Behavioral · Unhappy clients
Tell me about a client who was unhappy with your report after closing. How did you handle it?
A strong answer: Listened, reviewed the report and photos, explained the scope, followed the company's claims process, and admitted nothing before the review.
Pull these from your report software and survey tool. Run each market for a season before you set its bar.
Average inspection completion time
Time from arrival to leaving the house, from the app's start and end stamps. Compare by size and age, so a large older home isn't judged against a new condo.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Survey stars from buyers after the report goes out. Check the comments for how well the inspector explained findings on site, not just the score.
Inspection report accuracy
Items the Report Quality Reviewer sends back, plus defects missed and found after closing, against reports written. Log each by system so coaching hits the weak spot.
Repeat client rate
Clients and agents who book again, from your booking records. Keep agent referrals on their own line, apart from returning buyers and sellers.
In most places, yes, though each state writes its own rules. Florida and Texas both license home inspectors. Where your state does, list the license as a requirement or say you'll pay for the training. Where it doesn't, ask for association training and plenty of ride-alongs before solo work.
How much does a home inspector make?
Construction and building inspectors who work for architecture, engineering, and inspection firms earned a median of $36.22 an hour ($75,330 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $59,460 and $94,370 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
Can a home inspector fix what they find?
Keep inspection and repair apart. Florida law bars a home inspector or their company from offering repairs on a home they've inspected, with an exception for home warranty work. It also bars paying agents for referrals and fees that hinge on the report's findings or the sale closing. Look up your own state's rule before adding any repair service.
Does overtime apply when inspectors get a fee per inspection?
Yes, for inspectors who aren't exempt. A fee per inspection works like a piece rate under federal rules. Total the week's inspection fees, bonuses and any hourly pay, then divide by the week's total hours for the regular rate. Every hour over 40 adds half that rate on top. Count the evening hours spent writing reports at home, too.
How many years of experience should a home inspector have?
Two years in home inspection or a related technical field, per the template. A builder, remodeler or HVAC tech can bring the house sense, but report writing and client handling still take time. Ask for a sample report in the interview and read it as a buyer would.
