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The differences between construction assistants and construction inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a construction inspector has an average salary of $52,306, which is higher than the $39,072 average annual salary of a construction assistant.
The top three skills for a construction assistant include safety procedures, construction projects and general contractors. The most important skills for a construction inspector are asphalt, ACI, and construction inspection.
| Construction Assistant | Construction Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $39,072 | $52,306 |
| Hourly rate | $18.78 | $25.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 31,209 | 42,007 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 39 | 50 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A construction assistant performs various clerical and operational support tasks to assist construction managers and maintain smooth workflow operations. Their responsibilities usually include monitoring budgets and costs, handling calls and correspondence, purchasing construction materials according to project requirements, liaising with suppliers and construction contractors, and participating in managing the schedules and activities of the workers. A construction assistant may also perform inspections to identify problem areas and ensure that all procedures adhere to the safety codes and standards.
A construction inspector is an individual who is responsible for inspecting construction sites to ensure that these sites are following local and building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications. Construction inspectors use survey equipment, metering devices, and test equipment to perform inspections of plumbing, electrical and other systems within the construction. They approve building plans that are satisfactory and issue violation notices and stop orders when there are violations. Construction inspectors also keep photographs taken during inspections and provide written documentation.
Construction assistants and construction inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Construction Assistant | Construction Inspector | |
| Average salary | $39,072 | $52,306 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $54,000 | Between $36,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Springfield, MA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Beazer Homes | Orange County Sanitation District |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Professional |
There are a few differences between a construction assistant and a construction inspector in terms of educational background:
| Construction Assistant | Construction Inspector | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | - | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between construction assistants' and construction inspectors' demographics:
| Construction Assistant | Construction Inspector | |
| Average age | 39 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 30.8% Asian, 2.4% White, 50.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 5% |