How to hire a construction inspector

How to hire a construction inspector, step by step

Here's a step-by-step construction 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 construction inspector job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new construction inspector
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a construction inspector do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The construction inspector hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect construction inspector also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of construction inspector salaries for various roles:

   Type of Construction Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
   Construction Inspector	Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.	$17-36
   Prestressed Concrete Labour	Prestressed concrete labor works at construction sites where they are in charge of handling and processing prestressed concrete materials into structural forms. They typically coordinate with managers and engineers to learn the construction plans and guidelines, design and build structures, prepare materials, and perform corrective measures when necessary... Show more	$12-20
   Concrete Finisher	A concrete finisher is responsible for smoothing out concrete surfaces, ensuring that the final result followed the design and client's specifications. Concrete finishers operate special construction equipment to stabilize concrete forms... Show more	$12-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Asphalt
   • ACI
   • Construction Inspection
   • Construction Projects
   • Construction Management
   • Traffic Control
   • Field Testing
   • OSHA
   • Inspection Reports
   • Rehabilitation
   • Construction Sites
   • Highway Construction
   • Construction Materials
   • Shop Drawings

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • 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.

   More construction inspector duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your construction inspector job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A construction 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 construction inspector in Arizona may be lower than in California, and an entry-level construction inspector usually earns less than a senior-level construction inspector. Additionally, a construction 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 construction inspector salary

   $52,306yearly

   $25.15 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level construction inspector salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average construction inspector salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$81,265	$39
   2	Washington	$73,297	$35
   3	Illinois	$64,338	$31
   4	Nevada	$63,713	$31
   5	Rhode Island	$63,625	$31
   6	New York	$60,438	$29
   7	Hawaii	$58,397	$28
   8	Kansas	$58,100	$28
   9	Missouri	$57,907	$28
   10	Colorado	$57,728	$28
   11	Oregon	$56,634	$27
   12	New Mexico	$55,602	$27
   13	North Carolina	$53,821	$26
   14	Ohio	$53,207	$26
   15	Arkansas	$52,967	$25
   16	Maryland	$50,767	$24
   17	Texas	$47,487	$23
   18	Indiana	$47,258	$23
   19	District of Columbia	$46,857	$23
   20	Virginia	$46,777	$22

   Average construction inspector salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Orange County Sanitation District	$95,396	$45.86
   2	Santa Clara Valley Water District	$93,834	$45.11
   3	Parsons	$84,301	$40.53	113
   4	STV Group	$77,302	$37.16	20
   5	University of California-Berkeley	$75,744	$36.42
   6	Hill International	$72,916	$35.06	43
   7	Jacobs Engineering Group	$72,610	$34.91
   8	Ramboll	$71,121	$34.19	42
   9	University of California	$70,044	$33.67	1
   10	Arcadis	$69,035	$33.19	45
   11	Crown Castle International	$67,355	$32.38	5
   12	T.Y. Lin International	$66,681	$32.06	22
   13	Civil & Environmental Consultants	$66,296	$31.87	3
   14	Intertek	$66,001	$31.73	82
   15	Gannett Fleming	$65,793	$31.63	54
   16	AECOM	$65,397	$31.44	263
   17	City of Detroit	$64,968	$31.23	3
   18	Black & Veatch	$64,936	$31.22	74
   19	HDR	$64,490	$31.00	70
   20	Environmental Design Group	$64,477	$31.00	7

4. Writing a construction inspector job description

   A job description for a construction inspector role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a construction inspector job description:

   Construction inspector job description example

   McCormick Taylor, Inc. has immediate openings for experienced construction inspectors to work on highway, structure and environmental projects for VDOT, localities, or other similar entities. Candidates will ensure quality control and contract compliance for all phases of construction on highway projects, including monitoring of contractor's work to ensure conformance to plans, specifications, and other contract documents. Familiarity with VDOT's LAP Manual is highly desired.
   Responsibilities Prepare daily reports and properly document material records in notebook Record quantities for comparison with work completed and estimated project quantities Act and make decisions independently for routine project issues Foster relationships with contractors, project stakeholders, and the general public Ensure materials are tested in accordance with contract documents Review contractor pay applications for compliance with contract Ability to read and interpret roadway plans Qualifications Required VDOT approved certifications:
   • Soil and Aggregate Compaction
   • Asphalt Field level I and II
   • Hydraulic Cement Concrete Field
   • Pavement Marking
   • Slurry Surfacing
   • Surface treatment
   • Flagger Certification
   • Certification for Erosion and Sediment Control Inspection
   • Nuclear Gauge Safety Training
   • Intermediate Work Zone Traffic Control
   • 10 Hour OSHA Safety Training
   • GRIT (Guardrail Certification) Required Qualifications:
   • Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Construction Inspector for transportation projects.
   • Candidates must have a HS diploma or equivalency certificate
   • Valid Driver's License Salary/Benefits: McCormick Taylor offers competitive salaries and an outstanding benefits package. Salaries are subject to client consideration based on experience and certifications. We value your interest in our organization! At McCormick Taylor, our people are our greatest asset. If you join us, we hope for the opportunity to grow and succeed together. We offer an unparalleled, comprehensive benefits package-including no-deductible medical plans, free vision and dental plans, programs to enhance work-life balance, and flexible and hybrid work schedules. McCormick Taylor is an Equal Opportunity Employer that strongly supports and celebrates the unique backgrounds of all of our employees and our applicants. Our commitment to inclusion spans age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, and physical and mental ability. Our focus is on building a culture that promotes, supports, and values the diverse backgrounds and voices of our employees so that everyone feels welcome and can succeed. We strive to build a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. To find out more information on our benefits and culture, click the links below. Benefits | Culture

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right construction inspector for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with construction inspector candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 construction inspector

   Once you've selected the best construction inspector candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new construction 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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How much does it cost to hire a construction inspector?