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The differences between construction foremen and construction inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a construction foreman, becoming a construction inspector takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a construction foreman has an average salary of $57,121, which is higher than the $52,306 average annual salary of a construction inspector.
The top three skills for a construction foreman include work ethic, CDL and OSHA. The most important skills for a construction inspector are asphalt, ACI, and construction inspection.
| Construction Foreman | Construction Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $57,121 | $52,306 |
| Hourly rate | $27.46 | $25.15 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 40,621 | 42,007 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A construction foreman is responsible for overseeing construction operations and determining the construction progress by monitoring plans and schedules. A construction foreman allocates tasks to the workers and ensures that everyone adheres to the safety guidelines and regulations, preventing potential hazards in the work area and avoiding construction delays. They also identify cost-reduction opportunities by handling negotiation with trusted suppliers and third-party vendors. A construction foreman inspects the quality of materials, including the equipment and machinery, allocates adequate resources for production, and resolves issues immediately.
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 foremen and construction inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Construction Foreman | Construction Inspector | |
| Average salary | $57,121 | $52,306 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $77,000 | Between $36,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Repsol Energy North America Corporation | Orange County Sanitation District |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a construction foreman and a construction inspector in terms of educational background:
| Construction Foreman | Construction Inspector | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | - | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between construction foremen' and construction inspectors' demographics:
| Construction Foreman | Construction Inspector | |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 1.5% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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% |