by our College Data Analytics TeamBetween drywall, roofing, flooring, insulation and painting, there are many variables that are needed to construct a building. While studying Building Management and Inspection you will combine the two focuses of management and trade skills. The trade skill aspect will educate students on the process and materials involved in construction, in addition to creating and analyzing construction plans and drawings. The management aspect will prepare student to manage a team and run a construction operation, by enforcing time management and safety.
There are many concentrations within this major; they include Insulator, Roofer, Glazier, Drywall Installation, Concrete Finishing, Building/Property Maintenance, Building/Construction Site Manager, Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker, Roofer, and Building Construction Technology. While focusing on these concentrations, you will be taking courses in basic maintenance and repair, mold preparation, electrical and mechanical systems, building codes, and site preparation and layout. This major is typically offered as an associate's or certificate.
Studying Building Management & Inspection explores Building/construction Finishing, Management, And Inspection. Continue reading for the essential details every building management & inspection student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering building management & inspection programs.
Across the country, building management & inspection draws strong interest, with 6,978 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Building Management & Inspection Schools ranking analyzes these 309 schools to determine the best overall colleges for building management & inspection students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of building management & inspection programs later in this article.
Coursework for Building Management & Inspection build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations building management & inspection graduates commonly enter.
Individuals who are interested in this major should possess strong communication skills. You will be working in teams and managing others, therefore efficient oral and written skills are necessary for the success of projects.
Problem solving skills and creative thinking will aid you in resolving unpredictable complications during projects. If you are interested in pursuing this major, students are advised to take prior courses in English, drafting, math, and business. Most programs require students to acquire an internship in order to gain work experience and to learn the fundamentals first hand.
The skill set developed in a building management & inspection program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a building management & inspection major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several building management & inspection degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,989 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,538 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 243 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,874 |
People currently working in careers related to building management & inspection tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 38.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 19.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 17.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.3% |
| Some college courses | 7.5% |
| Master’s degree | 0.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in building management & inspection careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in Building Management & Inspection allows students to enter into a variety of positions. If you are interested in management and inspection, consider careers as a Construction Manager, Construction and Building Inspector, or Property Manager. Managers oversee the building site and ensure that safety precautions are being followed, in addition to meeting deadlines. These managers are in high demand, and the field is expected to grow in the next ten years. A building inspector determines if construction, changes, and repairs comply with codes and regulations.
If you do not wish to manage others, you can look for jobs as a roofer, dry waller, insulator, glazier, or metal building assembler. These individuals work on one aspect of the construction, whereas the managers oversee the entire site.
Studying building management & inspection can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to building management & inspection.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to building management & inspection.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet Installers | 842,650 | 13.4% |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | 711,576 | 4.9% |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | 682,643 | -3.5% |
| Paperhangers | 673,438 | 10.2% |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | 669,206 | 8.0% |
| Tile and Stone Setters | 656,657 | 3.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 646,091 | 3.6% |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | 639,001 | -1.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of building management & inspection graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,822 |
| 4 years | $32,489 |
| 5 years | $37,102 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for building management & inspection graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers building management & inspection grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $86,216 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $77,350 |
| Carpet Installers | $72,945 |
| Floor Sanders and Finishers | $71,975 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $70,937 |
With 309 different building management & inspection programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased building management & inspection school rankings to help you.
Students interested in building management & inspection, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 35,577 |
| Carpenters | 5,356 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | 3,471 |
| CONSTRUCTION TRADES | 2,761 |
| Mason/Masonry | 378 |
| Construction Trades, Other | 281 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
