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Construction inspector skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Neil Opfer,

Becky Serbin

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical construction inspector skills. We ranked the top skills for construction inspectors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.6% of construction inspector resumes contained asphalt as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a construction inspector needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 construction inspector skills for your resume and career

1. Asphalt

Here's how construction inspectors use asphalt:

Performed density tests on compacted soil and asphalt paving to determine if materials complied with construction specification requirements.
Performed asphalt pavement inspections, including density testing.

2. ACI

American Concrete Institute (ACI) is an institution known for its consensus-based standards, educational, technical, and training programs, certification programs, and adept individuals involved in construction in choosing quality materials to pursue the best use of concrete. ACI publishes more than 400 standards that can be used in the manufacturing, maintenance of concrete in different usage. These standards also determine systems or methods for inspection, test, and building code requirements. With ACI, the standards ensure the product reliability, adoption of new uses, and improved up keeping.

Here's how construction inspectors use aci:

Performed all required ACI test, ensured all construction and materials are per specifications and plans.
Skilled in ACI Codes, AutoCAD, NICET, OSHA Certified, and Construction.

3. Construction Inspection

Here's how construction inspectors use construction inspection:

Manage County Roadway Resurfacing Program including assisting with Bid Documents and Analysis and conducting Roadway Construction Inspections.
Provided construction inspection & administration for construction of Highway Preventative Maintenance Contract on eight Monroe County highways.

4. Construction Projects

A construction project is an organized process of constructing, redeveloping, renovating, or otherwise improving a building, or structure. The project phase begins usually as a broad criterion that is then made with the help of a brief, feasibility analysis, funding, and planning. The majority of construction projects are one-time jobs.

Here's how construction inspectors use construction projects:

Monitor municipal construction projects as a representative authority of a town to ensure infrastructure improvements are completed to design specifications.
Performed continuous inspections and surveillance of military construction operations, and maintenance, and host nation funded construction projects.

5. Construction Management

Here's how construction inspectors use construction management:

Performed construction management and inspection services for rehabilitation and upgrading of existing taxiways at Trenton-Mercer Airport in New Jersey.
Preformed construction management duties for several Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department Transportation Departments projects.

6. Traffic Control

Traffic control helps in the supervision of the movement of vehicles, goods, and people for safety and efficiency.

Here's how construction inspectors use traffic control:

Conducted traffic control safety reviews and assisted contractor and other inspectors with contract disputes and specification interpretation.
Maintained inspection on traffic control plans and storm water pollution and prevention plans and reported any deficiencies to the General Contractor.

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7. Field Testing

Here's how construction inspectors use field testing:

Worked independently to complete field testing and construction materials testing.
Performed service, repair, and calibration of laboratory and field testing equipment on a timely basis.

8. OSHA

Here's how construction inspectors use osha:

Regulated OSHA Safety requirements and submitted weekly reports, conducted field investigations in response to questions and complaints.
Note All NY State projects are regulated by NYDOT, OSHA and, EPA and enforced by site inspector

9. Inspection Reports

An inspection report is a written document provided after a thorough evaluation of a specific procedure/ process.

Here's how construction inspectors use inspection reports:

File computer generated daily inspection reports, review monthly pay requisition and written correspondence to contractor.
Completed daily field inspection and prepared daily inspection report of construction activity.

10. Rehabilitation

Here's how construction inspectors use rehabilitation:

Worked as a construction inspector on federal project for street rehabilitation damaged during Hurricane Katrina.
Assisted project engineer with construction monitoring and inspection on multiple bridge rehabilitation projects.

11. Construction Sites

A piece of land where constructional activities are to be conducted is termed as a construction site.

Here's how construction inspectors use construction sites:

Inspected and monitor construction sites to ensure adherence to safety standards, construction specifications.
Conduct inspections of construction sites and materials and develop report documentation of findings.

12. Highway Construction

Here's how construction inspectors use highway construction:

Performed inspections of bridge and highway construction using detailed specifications.
Inspect, monitor, and report on all phases of highway construction.

13. Construction Materials

Construction materials are equipment and objects that are used to construct buildings. Naturally occurring elements like clay, wood, and sand also come under construction materials. Man-made construction materials include concrete, bricks, tiles, etc. Using good quality construction materials helps in reducing maintenance costs and reduces the chances of frequent maintenance. The properties of artificial and natural elements determine the quality of construction material.

Here's how construction inspectors use construction materials:

Supervised construction work to ensure compliance with architectural and structural drawings and inspected construction materials to verify conformance to project specifications.
Perform Departmental field tests of construction materials and submit material samples to the Office of Materials and Research for laboratory testing.

14. Shop Drawings

Here's how construction inspectors use shop drawings:

Interpret and understand contract plans, proposal, standard specifications, manufacturers shop drawings and all other contract documents.
Read Specification book and studied Shop Drawings to understand how steel repairs would be made.

15. Safety Regulations

Here's how construction inspectors use safety regulations:

Assured contractors' conformance to plans, specifications and applicable safety regulations.
Reviewed plans, site layouts, and construction methods to ensure compliance to requirements and safety regulations

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What skills help Construction Inspectors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What construction inspector skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Neil Opfer

Assoc. Professor - UNLV Civil & Environmental Engineering & Construction Department, Website

First off, know what competitive salaries are in your area of the country for the type of job you want as you never have to recover from a good start. Some companies, for instance, will offer salaries that are simply not competitive. As an example, a few years ago, we had one CM graduate starting at $70K per year at one firm (heavy-highway contractor) whereas another grad had been offered $42K per year for a commercial flooring contractor. That $42K was simply not competitive with the market whether that employer offering that salary knew it or not. Also, compare offers versus area living costs. Use cost-of-living calculators such as at bankrate.com If you, using this bankrate.com tool, were offered one job in Las Vegas NV at $80,000 per year versus another job opportunity in Los Angeles CA, you would need $122,000 per year as a comparable salary. Remember to measure yourself as to earning that salary on a regular basis. Don't take jobs where a bonus is promised to make up for a bad salary. Example here is taking a Superintendent Job where your Job ended up profitable but other jobs run by others overall didn't so taking that lower salary and not getting that bonus didn't work out so well. Again, benchmark yourself against what others in the industry in that same area are actually getting paid. If you truly feel you deserve a raise where you're at but can't get it you may need to change jobs to get to a higher salary scale. But that firm offering above-market salaries may be doing so because of internal problems (bad bosses, poor working conditions, insane hours, insane understaffing, etc.) so look before you leap. It's a given that to be successful as a working professional in construction, one cannot just work a 40-hour week. But you shouldn't be working 7-10s or more on a regular basis either. Again, through networking you perhaps can find out who are the 'bad employers.'

What type of skills will young construction inspectors need?

Becky Serbin

Director of Education and Curriculum, National Tile Contractors Association

Tile contractors are hiring across the U.S. and using several different online job posting sites. We even have an online form that those interested in the trade can fill out. When we receive them, they are forwarded to members in their area. If the person is located in an area where there is a union presence, they can even contact that office for job opportunities.

What soft skills should all construction inspectors possess?

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Leadership and communication are among the most essential skills of a construction manager. Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are built safely on schedule, within budget, and to the quality outlined in the drawings and specifications. To fulfill these responsibilities, construction managers must lead multiple teams, including primary, secondary, and third party players, on a construction project through effective oral and written communications.

What hard/technical skills are most important for construction inspectors?

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Construction Managers are project managers with specialized technical skills. Construction managers' most important technical skills are print reading, estimating, scheduling, project and technology management.

Do you want to know more?

List of construction inspector skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a construction inspector resume and required skills for a construction inspector to have include:

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

PennDOT
Construction Methods
Roadway Construction
Transportation Construction
Structural Steel
Project Documentation
Nuclear Gauge
Plumbing
Contract Specifications
Inspection Services
Caltrans
Traffic Signals
Site Inspections
Pump Stations
TxDOT
HVAC

Building Codes
Cost Estimates
Geotechnical
Retaining Walls
VDOT
Contractor Compliance
HMA
Fall Protection
Erosion Control
Test Results
NYC
Project Specifications
Reinforced Concrete
Excavations
As-Built Drawings

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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