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Construction Manager Vs Construction Inspector

The differences between construction managers and construction inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a construction manager, becoming a construction inspector takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a construction manager has an average salary of $81,313, which is higher than the $52,306 average annual salary of a construction inspector.

The top three skills for a construction manager include project management, construction management and construction projects. The most important skills for a construction inspector are asphalt, ACI, and construction inspection.

Construction manager vs construction inspector overview

Construction ManagerConstruction Inspector
Yearly Salary$81,313$52,306
Hourly rate$39.09$25.15
Growth Rate8%-4%
Number Of Jobs44,43142,007
Job Satisfaction--
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average Age4650
Years Of Experience86

What does a Construction Manager do?

A construction manager oversees a construction site and its workers, ensuring efficiency in the workforce and overall operations. They work in an office within the construction site to meet and coordinate with architects, contractors, and clients. They must also hire the required workforce, identify and resolve issues, maintain daily reports and communication with clients, and prioritize a safe work environment. Above all, they must see that all of the required protocols are met, including the target completion time and budget.

What does a construction inspector do?

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 manager vs construction inspector salary

Construction managers and construction inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction ManagerConstruction Inspector
Average Salary$81,313$52,306
Salary RangeBetween $54,000 And $120,000Between $36,000 And $75,000
Highest Paying CitySan Francisco, CAOakland, CA
Highest Paying StateHawaiiCalifornia
Best Paying CompanyMetaOrange County Sanitation District
Best Paying IndustryTechnologyProfessional

Differences between construction manager and construction inspector education

There are a few differences between a construction manager and a construction inspector in terms of educational background:

Construction ManagerConstruction Inspector
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most Common MajorBusinessCivil Engineering
Most Common CollegeCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Diego State University

Construction manager vs construction inspector demographics

Here are the differences between construction managers' and construction inspectors' demographics:

Construction ManagerConstruction Inspector
Average Age4650
Gender RatioMale, 92.0% Female, 8.0%Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9%
Race RatioBlack or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage4%5%

Differences between construction manager and construction inspector duties and responsibilities

Construction Manager Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage three geotechnical engineers, a general contractor , 45 sub-contractors, and consultants.
  • Manage all contractor-relate tasks from RFI submissions through payment administration.
  • Manage and coordinate architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers and subcontractors technical departments.
  • Manage complete design and construction coordination of company's retail properties throughout the Washington/Baltimore area market.
  • Manage third party contractors, including safety oversight, control inspection and environmental design specification compliance, and also direct consultants.
  • Implement and maintain construction safety regulations according to OSHA requirements, and ensure environmental protection regulatory compliance with engineering standards.
  • Show More

Construction Inspector Example 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.
  • Show More

Construction manager vs construction inspector skills

Common Construction Manager Skills
  • Project Management, 12%
  • Construction Management, 12%
  • Construction Projects, 9%
  • OSHA, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Oversight, 4%
Common Construction Inspector Skills
  • Asphalt, 9%
  • ACI, 8%
  • Construction Inspection, 8%
  • Construction Projects, 7%
  • Construction Management, 6%
  • Traffic Control, 6%

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