How To Become a Construction Inspector

To become a construction inspector, you usually need a bachelor's degree and 2-4 years of experience. The most common jobs before becoming a construction inspector are project manager, inspector, and engineering technician. Hiring managers expect a construction inspector to have soft skills such as communication skills, craft experience, and detail oriented. Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of 6-12 months of job training to become a construction inspector.

The national average salary for construction inspectors is $52,306, but with the right certifications and experience, they can make up to $75,000. Getting a certification as a OSHA Safety Certificate will help you to earn more as a construction inspector.

Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 7,700 job opportunities across the U.S.

How to become a Construction Inspector in 7 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore construction inspector education
  • Step 2: Develop construction inspector skills
  • Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
  • Step 4: Get construction inspector certifications
  • Step 5: Research construction inspector duties
  • Step 6: Prepare your resume
  • Step 7: Get construction inspector experience

Key Steps To Become a Construction Inspector

  1. Explore Construction Inspector Education

    If you're interested in becoming a construction inspector, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 57.0% of construction inspectors have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 6.6% of construction inspectors have master's degrees. Even though most construction inspectors have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a construction inspector. When we researched the most common majors for a construction inspector, we found that they most commonly have civil engineering, business and construction management.

    Construction Inspector Degrees

    Bachelors

    57.0 %

    Associate

    24.1 %

    High School Diploma

    7.5 %

    Construction Inspector MajorPercentages
    Civil Engineering34.20%
    Business9.20%
    Construction Management9.10%
    Civil Engineering Technologies8.00%
    Other Degrees39.70%

  2. Develop Construction Inspector Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop construction inspector skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in construction inspector job descriptions:

  3. Complete Relevent Training/Internship

    Construction inspectors spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new construction inspectors learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as a construction inspector based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real construction inspector resumes.

    Average Amount Of Time At Training

    Less than 1 month

    1-3 months

    3-6 months

    6-12 months

    1-2 years

    4-10 years

  4. Get Construction Inspector Certifications

    Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for construction inspectors. The most common certification is OSHA Safety Certificate , but Certified Construction Manager (CCM) is also frequently seen in construction inspectors resumes.

    1. OSHA Safety Certificate
    2. Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
    3. Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
    4. Highway Construction - Level I
    5. Certification in Nuclear Medicine
    6. Certified Construction Professional (CCP)
    7. Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)
    8. Certified Real Estate Inspector (CRI)

    More About Certifications

  5. Research Construction Inspector Duties

    When you decide to become a construction inspector, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most construction inspector jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Manage cad files and plotting operations, as cad manager.
    • Monitor new field inspector's performance and lead them into Bechtel's management program.
    • Manage and inspect fiber optic cable placement, fiber drop installations and associate construction activities for an assign OSP project.
    • Coordinate, manage, and conduct geotechnical engineering and engineering geology subsurface investigations.
    • Comply with fra, dot, osha.
    • Assist in running pigs and tie-ins.

  6. Get Construction Inspector Experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a construction inspector. The most common roles before becoming a construction inspector include project manager, inspector team lead and engineering technician.

    Construction Inspector
    Farmer
    Welder
    Quality Assurance Inspector
    Farmer
    Mechanic
    Engineering Technician
    Leasing Agent
    Technician
    Field Engineer
    Leasing Agent
    Project Coordinator
    Construction Coordinator
    General Contractor
    Maintenance Technician
    Engineering Technician
    General Contractor
    Technician
    Engineering Technician

  7. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Construction Inspector Resume templates

    Build a professional Construction Inspector resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Construction Inspector resume.

    Construction Inspector Resume
    Construction Inspector Resume
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    Construction Inspector Resume
    Construction Inspector Resume
    Construction Inspector Resume
    Construction Inspector Resume
    Construction Inspector Resume
    Construction Inspector Resume
    Construction Inspector Resume
    Construction Inspector Resume

  8. Apply For a Construction Inspector Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

    Construction Inspector Jobs

    9. How To Become a Construction Inspector
    How To Become a Construction Inspector Career Overview
Top Construction Inspector Jobs Near You

Average Salary for a Construction Inspector

Construction Inspectors in America make an average salary of $52,306 per year or $25 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $75,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $36,000 per year.
Average Construction Inspector Salary
$52,306 Yearly
$25.15 hourly
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Updated November 18, 2022