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The differences between engineering construction inspectors and plans examiners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an engineering construction inspector and a plans examiner. Additionally, a plans examiner has an average salary of $59,697, which is higher than the $51,630 average annual salary of an engineering construction inspector.
The top three skills for an engineering construction inspector include construction projects, construction sites and asphalt. The most important skills for a plans examiner are plumbing, customer service, and life safety.
| Engineering Construction Inspector | Plans Examiner | |
| Yearly salary | $51,630 | $59,697 |
| Hourly rate | $24.82 | $28.70 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 95,430 | 4,018 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Typically, an engineering construction inspector is in charge of the environmental and engineering needs of any building. Engineering construction inspectors perform inspection on the electrical, plumbing, and other related systems to ensure code compliance. They review building plans to ensure their compliance with local ordinances, contract specifications, and building codes. It is their job to keep everyday logs such as inspection photographs. They monitor the construction sites on a periodical basis.
A plans examiner is typically in charge of evaluating construction or work plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and zoning ordinances. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering and reviewing applications and documentation, verifying the accuracy and authenticity of requirements, and assuring that they adhere to the safety policies and standards. Furthermore, as a plans examiner, it is essential to liaise with clients and other officials, maintain records of all transactions, and provide advice on whether the applications are suitable for permits.
Engineering construction inspectors and plans examiners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Construction Inspector | Plans Examiner | |
| Average salary | $51,630 | $59,697 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $74,000 | Between $41,000 And $85,000 |
| Highest paying City | Eugene, OR | Fairfield, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Icma-rc |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between an engineering construction inspector and a plans examiner in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Construction Inspector | Plans Examiner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Architecture |
| Most common college | San Diego State University | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities |
Here are the differences between engineering construction inspectors' and plans examiners' demographics:
| Engineering Construction Inspector | Plans Examiner | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% | Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 3.4% White, 68.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |