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How to hire a building consultant

Building consultant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring building consultants in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a building consultant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new building consultant to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a building consultant, step by step

To hire a building consultant, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a building consultant, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step building consultant hiring guide:

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

    First, determine the employments status of the building consultant you need to hire. Certain building consultant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A building consultant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, building consultants 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.

    Here's a comparison of building consultant salaries for various roles:

    Type of Building ConsultantDescriptionHourly rate
    Building Consultant$26-54
    Enterprise ArchitectAn enterprise architect is responsible for evaluating systems to develop business operations, ensuring efficiency and profit growth. They mostly establish architectural models according to business plans and existing systems, perform research and analysis, recommend changes in the information technology structures, and conduct skills assessment to determine the needs of employees... Show more$41-77
    Data Warehouse ArchitectData warehouse architects are in charge of planning data warehouse solutions and function with the standard data warehouse technologies to develop plans that best sustain an organization or business. Typically, data warehouse architects usually take employer goals as well as client demands and work to create a particular architecture that will be sustained to serve certain stated objectives... Show more$39-70
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Project Management
    • Roofing
    • Revit
    • Real Estate
    • CAD
    • Plumbing
    • BIM
    • Litigation
    • HVAC
    • Epic
    • Python
    • GIT
    • Jira
    • Jenkins
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Used shell and Perl scripting to automate the deployments.
    • Lead architecture, develop of predictive models & application develop of radiology-oncology executive dashboard and alerting services base on statistical calculations.
    • Prepare UNIX scripts for processing various functions in interacting with source control system.
    • Define Clearcase command calls for automating the artifact compliance verification process written in perl and python scripts.
    • Provide knowledge of SVN usage procedure for developers.
    • Enhance existing UNIX build scripts with new build processes and maintenance.
    More building consultant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your building consultant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A building consultant can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, building consultants' average salary in oklahoma is 39% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level building consultants 51% less than senior-level building consultants.
    • Certifications. A building consultant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a building consultant's salary.

    Average building consultant salary

    $79,356yearly

    $38.15 hourly rate

    Entry-level building consultant salary
    $55,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 20, 2025

    Average building consultant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$104,251$50
    2Connecticut$91,898$44
    3Virginia$88,890$43
    4Maryland$87,673$42
    5Illinois$84,982$41
    6Massachusetts$84,148$40
    7New York$80,628$39
    8Wisconsin$80,537$39
    9Washington$78,432$38
    10Michigan$78,004$38
    11Minnesota$76,930$37
    12Ohio$75,880$36
    13Florida$75,810$36
    14Louisiana$73,876$36
    15Georgia$73,233$35
    16Alabama$73,084$35
    17Texas$72,299$35
    18Missouri$65,351$31
    19Utah$64,326$31
    20Colorado$64,126$31

    Average building consultant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Kema$86,241$41.46
    2Tachyon Technologies$85,229$40.98
    3Rimkus Consulting Group$84,217$40.496
    4Arup$82,921$39.87
    5Turner & Townsend$81,336$39.10
    6Wiss Janney Elstner$78,723$37.855
    7AECOM$78,721$37.854
    8Affiliated Engineers$78,693$37.83
    9ABBTECH$77,547$37.28
    10Engineering Consulting Services$76,690$36.8714
    11Jordan & Skala Engineers$76,019$36.55
    12Gilsanz Murray Steficek$75,642$36.37
    13Sedgwick LLP$75,434$36.2722
    14J.S. Held$74,217$35.6811
    15Spinnaker$73,351$35.26
    16Partner Engineering and Science$66,364$31.91
    17Habitat for Humanity$37,704$18.13
  4. Writing a building consultant job description

    A building consultant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a building consultant job description:

    Building consultant job description example

    J.S. Held is a specialized global consulting firm whose professionals serve as trusted, expert advisors to organizations facing high-stakes events that demand urgent attention, exceptional knowledge, staunch integrity, and clear-cut analysis and advice. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of technical, scientific, financial, and technology advisory services that enable clients across the spectrum of industries to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations with precise analysis, reliable insights, and confidence. With over 100 locations worldwide we are highly committed to all members of our community, both employees and clients. Our organization focuses on promoting a sense of community and inspiring our people to achieve results that exceed goals.



    We are seeking a Restoration, Property Damage Expert to join our Building Consulting team. This is a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial, highly driven person with a well-rounded skill set, whose responsibilities extend beyond those of traditional project managers and estimators. The ideal person for this role will need to not only have a strong grasp of property damage evaluation but also be flexible and a strategic thinker, able to take on a variety of tasks.

    Our building consulting team participates in projects of all sizes and scopes spanning from residential and middle-market commercial to the most complex economic, industrial, and infrastructure matters. Our experts are dedicated to providing “concierge” level services on high-net-worth personal lines claims.



    Job Description:


    The ideal candidate for this position possesses a minimum of 10 years of work experience in the restoration and remediation field as a Project Manager, with responsibilities for estimating large commercial complex losses. Large loss Insurance Adjusters with strong experience in the construction industry can also be a great fit. Estimators with experience in reconstruction projects, roofing, or equivalent fields are welcome to apply. High-end residential construction experience is also a great fit!


    The most successful experts in our organization have a strong desire to understand and learn the methodology for negotiating and settling files in a timely manner. They constantly apply strong analytical and writing skills to produce expert reports to support our clients in making important high-value decisions.



    Job Responsibilities:


    • Interfaces with clients and project representatives - adjusters, brokers, insureds, etc.
    • Schedules and perform field inspections and necessary site visits to evaluate the scope of work/damage.
    • Estimates medium to large commercial and residential projects using Xactimate.
    • Documents, reviews, and analyzes; schedules, contracts, change orders, correspondence, daily reports, meeting minutes, monthly reports, and any additional documents related to the project/file.
    • Provide technical direction to other consultants, interacting and supporting their files.
    • Collaborate with Business Development Managers to help develop new business opportunities and continue to nurture and strengthen existing client relationships.



    Attributes & Background:



    • Bachelor’s or associate degree from an accredited college or university; and 10 years of demonstrable experience and accomplishments in the restoration industry or 15+ years of experience in the restoration industry in lieu of a degree may suffice.
    • Relevant experience in the restoration and/or restoration contracting field specializing in working with insurance companies, with responsibilities related to scheduling, project management, and estimating.
    • Proficiency in working with Xactimate, Symbility, RS Means, or other estimating software.
    • Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word with strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to produce high-quality expert reports.
    • Willingness to travel overnight, out-of-state, abroad, and for CAT response when needed.
    • Strong project management skills.
    • Strong analysis and critical thinking skills.
    • Able to meet deadlines while being detail-oriented.
    • Strong independent work ethic and leadership skills and qualities.
    • Exceptional customer service skills to support and solve our client’s questions and requests.

    Desired Qualifications:



    • IICRC related degrees, credentials, or certifications.
    • HAAG, RRO, PMP, and other certifications.

    J.S. Held is dedicated to becoming the global leader in providing multi-disciplinary consulting services to the construction, government, healthcare, industrial, insurance, energy, legal, and technology, communities. We have diverse practice areas including Construction Advisory, Financial Investigations, Forensic Accounting & Economics, Forensic Architecture & Engineering, Surety, Environmental Health & Safety, Equipment, Toxicology, and Building & Property Consulting, among other disciplines. J.S. Held is devoted to recruiting and cultivating top industry talent to build a collaborative and diverse team of experts. We leverage our experience to provide local, cost-efficient solutions and an unrivaled client experience. We embrace diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our commitment to building a team and environment that fosters professional and personal enrichment is unwavering. We are greater when we are equal!

    Our mission is to serve as trusted, expert advisors to organizations around the world facing high-stakes situations that demand urgent attention, exceptional knowledge, staunch integrity, and objective, clear-cut analysis, and advice.



    Some of the Benefits We Have Include

    J.S. Held understands all of our employees are people and sometimes life needs flexibility. We work to always provide an environment that best supports and suits our team’s needs.

    • Our flexible work environment allows employees to work remotely when needed
    • Generous PTO Policy
    • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
    • 401k Match
    • Commuter Benefits


    EEO Statement



    J.S. Held LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, J.S. Held LLC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscriminatory employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

    J.S. Held LLC expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with J.S. Held LLC employees’ ability to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.


    Other Duties

    Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

    By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have read the J.S. Held Online Privacy Notice and hereby freely and unambiguously give informed consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of your personal information as required and described therein.


    Please explore what we’re all about at www.jsheld.com. We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer.


    #LI-DS1

  5. Post your job

    To find building consultants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any building consultants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level building consultants with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your building consultant job on Zippia to find and attract quality building consultant candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit building consultants, 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    If your interviews with building consultant applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

    • TestDome
    • CodeSignal
    • Testlify
    • BarRaiser
    • Coderbyte

    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 building consultant

    Once you've decided on a perfect building consultant 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.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a building consultant?

Before you start to hire building consultants, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire building consultants pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $79,356 per year for a building consultant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for building consultants in the US typically range between $26 and $54 an hour.

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