Categories: Career AdviceNews

Average building inspector salary in South Africa 2024

Published by
Lethabo Ntsoane

The average building inspector salary in South Africa is R16,800.00 per month. Contractors and engineering firms hire building inspectors to ensure that buildings are safe to occupy and that the construction meets certain standards.

A building inspector is employed in the building and construction industry, which is one of the busiest in a developing country such as South Africa. The salary of a building inspector is very moderate in South Africa considering the level of care and expertise required. 

However, bonuses can help a building inspector earn a higher income. A building inspector’s bonus is determined by the company for which they work. A building inspector’s annual bonus ranges from R10,000.00 to R48,000.00.

Some companies do not offer bonuses to building inspectors, so not every building inspector in South Africa receives one. Only 29% of South African building inspectors received a bonus in 2023. Building inspectors who received bonuses in 2023 reported that they ranged from 1% to 4% of their annual salary.

A building inspector’s salary does not include commissions. As a result, a building inspector’s income consists primarily of bonuses and a salary. A building inspector’s salary, on the other hand, is determined by a variety of factors.

Below, we look at the factors that influence a building inspector’s salary in South Africa.

Factors that influence the salary of a building inspector

Education

A building inspector’s salary is affected by his or her level of education. A tertiary education is not required to become a building inspector in South Africa; however, those with tertiary education earn more.

A building inspector with a higher certificate can expect to earn R11,100.00 per month on average. Those with a bachelor’s degree earn more, with an average monthly salary of R17,100.00.

Those with a Bachelor’s degree earn 53% more than those with a higher certificate. This increases the value of the trade for those with a bachelor’s degree.

Employer

A building inspector’s salary is heavily influenced by the employer for whom they work. Working for a good employer allows one to earn a higher base salary as well as to attain a salary increase every 12 to 20 months. A good employer can also assist with contributions to medical aid and other benefits.

A building inspector’s salary can be quite high, but one of the determining factors is their level of experience in the field. Below, we discuss how a building inspector’s level of experience affects his or her salary.

Salary of a building inspector based on their level of experience

Salary of a building inspector with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024

A building inspector with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R7,860.00 per month on average. Building inspectors with 0 years of experience earn the lowest salaries in this group, with an average monthly salary of R6,630.00.

Building inspectors with 2 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R8,500.00.

Salary of a building inspector with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024

A building inspector with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R10,100.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 29% increase over the average salary of building inspectors with 0 to 2 years of experience.

Building inspectors with 5 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R11,800.00. Building inspectors with 3 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R9,100.00.

Salary of a building inspector with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024

A building inspector with 6 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn R13,900.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 38% increase over the average salary of building inspectors with 3 to 5 years of experience.

Building inspectors with 10 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R15,000.00. Building inspectors with 6 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R12,400.00.

Salary of a building inspector with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 20224

A building inspector with 11 to 15 years of experience can expect to earn R17,300.00 on average per month. The salary represents a 24% increase over the average salary of building inspectors with 6 to 10 years of experience.

Building inspectors with 11 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R16,380.00. Building inspectors with 15 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R17,950.00.

Salary of a building inspector with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2024

A building inspector with 16 to 20 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R18,500.00. The salary represents a 7% increase in salary over the average salary of building inspectors with 11 to 15 years of experience.

Building inspectors with 20+ years of experience earn the most, with an average salary of R19,700.00. The salary of a building inspector in South Africa can reach R24,200.00 per month. 

Conclusion

A building inspector’s salary starts at a very low level for those with no experience or a national diploma and rapidly rises for those with a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience. A building inspector’s salary increases by 10% every 18 months, which is higher than the 8% increase for all professions during the same period. 

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Lethabo Ntsoane

Lethabo Ntsoane holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from the University of South Africa. He is a Financial Product commentator at Rateweb. He is an expect financial product analyst with years of experience in reviewing products and offering commentary. Lethabo majors in financial news, reviews and financial tips. He can be contacted: Email: lethabo@rateweb.co.za Twitter: @NtsoaneLethabo