Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
SOC code 13-1041 · O*NET-SOC 13-1041.04 · Medium preparation needed · Business and finance
Government Property Inspectors and Investigators pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$80,730
a year
Hourly
$38.81
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$88,400
$42.50 per hour
Middle 50%
$61,280 – $109,010
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$48,220 – $133,720
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
417,070
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Compliance Officers”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $48,220
- $23.18/hr
- 25th percentile
- $61,280
- $29.46/hr
- Median percentile
- $80,730
- $38.81/hr
- 75th percentile
- $109,010
- $52.41/hr
- 90th percentile
- $133,720
- $64.29/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+3%
Growing about as fast as average
418,000
jobs in 2024
430,300
projected for 2034
About 12,300 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do government property inspectors and investigators do?
Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Prepare correspondence, reports of inspections or investigations, or recommendations for action.
- Investigate alleged license or permit violations.
- Examine records, reports, or other documents to establish facts or detect discrepancies.
- Inspect government property, such as construction sites or public housing, to ensure compliance with contract specifications or legal requirements.
- Inspect manufactured or processed products to ensure compliance with contract specifications or legal requirements.
- Collect, identify, evaluate, or preserve case evidence.
- Submit samples of products to government laboratories for testing, as required.
- Inspect government-owned equipment or materials in the possession of private contractors to ensure compliance with contracts or regulations or to prevent misuse.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 39% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree39%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree25%
- Post-Secondary Certificate16%
- Some College Courses10%
Common questions
How much does a government property inspectors and investigators earn?
The national median is $80,730 a year. The full range runs from $48,220 at the 10th percentile to $133,720 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a government property inspectors and investigators without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is government property inspectors and investigators in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 3% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Learning3.5/5
- Monitoring3.4/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- Public Safety and Security4.3/5
- Building and Construction4.0/5
- Law and Government3.8/5
- Administrative3.7/5
- Engineering and Technology3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness.