How to hire a bridge inspector

How to hire a bridge inspector, step by step

Here's a step-by-step bridge inspector hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a bridge inspector job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new bridge inspector
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a bridge inspector do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your bridge inspector job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a bridge inspector for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A bridge inspector's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, bridge inspectors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of bridge inspectors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Bridge Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
   Bridge Inspector	Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.	$15-39
   General Foreman	Using their knowledge and expertise of all construction disciplines, a general foreman plans and oversees operations within a construction site to ensure that everything is running smoothly. They are typically in charge of conducting regular inspections, coordinating with engineers and architects, managing the budget and expenditures, supervising workers, and ensuring that the project moves according to the desired time frame... Show more	$17-29
   Construction Supervisor	Construction supervisors ensure construction team members work jointly to deliver excellent work on time. They provide team-building sessions and training and monitor the construction processes... Show more	$20-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DOT
   • Asphalt
   • Construction Inspection
   • ACI
   • Highway Construction
   • NCDOT
   • Inspection Reports
   • Pile
   • Geotechnical
   • Construction Methods
   • OSHA
   • Rehabilitation
   • Retaining Walls
   • Construction Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate, manage, and conduct geotechnical engineering and engineering geology subsurface investigations.
   • Create bridge rehabilitation drafts with AutoCAD, Civil3D.
   • Develop computer-aid drawings using AutoCAD.
   • Conduct safety-focused inspections to ensure licensee compliance with license provisions and NRC rules and regulations.
   • Submit Rfi's, and permits the was need for the jobs
   • Provide services for bridge construction and repair, iron work, carpentry, and structural concrete work

   More bridge inspector duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your bridge inspector job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A bridge inspector salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a bridge inspector in South Dakota may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level bridge inspector usually earns less than a senior-level bridge inspector. Additionally, a bridge inspector with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average bridge inspector salary

   $52,316yearly

   $25.15 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level bridge inspector salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average bridge inspector salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$76,126	$37
   2	Massachusetts	$68,315	$33
   3	Oregon	$66,849	$32
   4	California	$65,891	$32
   5	Nevada	$65,304	$31
   6	New York	$65,085	$31
   7	Wisconsin	$56,846	$27
   8	Maryland	$51,573	$25
   9	Florida	$50,963	$25
   10	Texas	$50,960	$25
   11	Alabama	$50,499	$24
   12	North Carolina	$49,641	$24
   13	Rhode Island	$49,403	$24
   14	Nebraska	$48,658	$23
   15	Virginia	$46,646	$22
   16	Pennsylvania	$46,496	$22
   17	South Carolina	$46,480	$22
   18	Georgia	$42,312	$20
   19	Louisiana	$41,919	$20

   Average bridge inspector salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Parsons	$86,529	$41.60	103
   2	CDM Smith	$82,074	$39.46	501
   3	Volkert	$78,827	$37.90	118
   4	Jacobs Engineering Group	$78,098	$37.55
   5	RS&H	$76,029	$36.55	42
   6	Stantec	$69,737	$33.53	121
   7	Gannett Fleming	$68,689	$33.02	129
   8	ATCS	$67,372	$32.39	11
   9	HDR	$67,317	$32.36	64
   10	AECOM	$66,951	$32.19	136
   11	Johnson Mirmiran & Thompson Inc	$66,847	$32.14	115
   12	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$65,981	$31.72	130
   13	KCI Technologies	$65,890	$31.68	46
   14	Genesee & Wyoming	$64,923	$31.21	3
   15	TranSystems	$64,823	$31.16
   16	S&ME	$64,652	$31.08	31
   17	Michael Baker	$64,484	$31.00	45
   18	Moffatt & Nichol	$63,754	$30.65	1
   19	Canadian Pacific Railway	$58,457	$28.10	1
   20	TRC Companies	$57,176	$27.49	20

4. Writing a bridge inspector job description

   A good bridge inspector job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a bridge inspector job description:

   Bridge inspector job description example

   The Bridge Inspector will work with others in planning and executing the safety and fracture-critical inspections of state and locally owned bridges in addition to preparing inspection reports. The ideal candidate will have taken one or more structural design classes, including concrete, steel, timber, and/or foundation design. Entry level candidates are encouraged to apply and will be provided on the job training. More experienced candidates with up to 5 years of relevant experience are highly encouraged for this position.
   Responsibilities:
   Work closely with the New Jersey team to coordinate and perform inspections, evaluate bridge and conditions and review reports, identify maintenance needs, properly code the structure inspections in I-forms, load rating analysis, meet with clients to advise of priority maintenance items, and to ensure timely submission of inspection documents. Coordinate traffic control sub-contractors, schedule man-lifts and under-bridge cranes for inspections. Use hand tools, ladders, under-bridge cranes and other equipment necessary for the inspection of on-system and off-system bridges, inspection and load rating for culverts, pre-stressed beam bridges, cast-in-place concrete bridges, steel girder bridges, steel truss bridges, and timber bridges. Feel a sense of pride in knowing that you are helping to address some of our nation's most critical infrastructure challenges while building the future of our organization!
   PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
   Bachelor's degree in Structural Engineering or Civil Engineering with structural emphasis, or equivalent work experience. 0 - 5 years of experience in bridge inspection and design. EIT desired NBIS Certified Bridge Safety inspector preferred. Taken the 2-week FHWA/NHI Bridge Safety Inspection courses preferred. Bridge Load Rating Experience is a plus. Safety conscious and will be responsible for their personal safety and the safety of their fellow team members Familiar with structural design software and AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications preferred. Fracture Critical inspection experience a plus. Good verbal and written communication skills. Valid U.S. driver's license
   COMPENSATION
   
   The salary range for this position is approximately $65,000.00 - $85,000.00. This will be dependent on the experience and expertise of the incoming candidate
   
   MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL EEO STATEMENT AND OTHER INFORMATION
   
   Michael Baker International is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Michael Baker International provides equal employment opportunity for all persons, in all facets of employment. Michael Baker International maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks. As a covered federal contractor, Michael Baker International is required to comply with Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, and its implementing guidelines. If the federal vaccine mandate is found to be valid and enforceable, this will include ensuring that all covered employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, except in limited circumstances where there is a legal entitlement to an accommodation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified and all will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.The Bridge and Tunnel Inspection Team Leader will manage the planning, inspection, and safety evaluations of state and locally owned bridges and tunnels and will assist in the preparation of inspection reports and other documents. The Team Leader should possess NBIS and NTIS certification with 5-8+ years of complex bridge and/or tunnel safety inspection experience.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right bridge inspector for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with bridge inspectors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit bridge inspectors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your bridge inspector job on Zippia to find and attract quality bridge inspector candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit bridge inspectors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new bridge inspector

   Once you've decided on a perfect bridge inspector candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new bridge inspector. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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