How to hire an engineering construction inspector

How to hire an engineering construction inspector, step by step

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

What does an engineering construction inspector do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an engineering construction inspector, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An engineering construction inspector's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, engineering construction inspectors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

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

   Type of Engineering Construction Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
   Engineering Construction Inspector	Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.	$16-35
   Plans Examiner	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... Show more	$19-40
   Inspector	An inspector is responsible for overseeing the overall condition of the site, ensuring that it complies with the safety standards and regulations. Inspectors' duties include monitoring the quality of the materials used, inspecting any defects and discrepancies that might compromise the operations, generating reports to assess the product costing if it meets the budget goals, and utilizing available resources in the market for the highest quality project... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Construction Projects
   • Construction Sites
   • Asphalt
   • ACI
   • Highway Construction
   • Construction Engineering
   • OSHA
   • NCDOT
   • DOT
   • Inspection Reports
   • Construction Materials
   • Field Testing
   • Traffic Control
   • ASTM

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate, manage, and conduct geotechnical engineering and engineering geology subsurface investigations.
   • Inspect general construction, plumbing, and electrical.
   • Calculate quantities of asphalt and concrete place and remove from construction job sites on a monthly basis.
   • Perform density tests, earthwork monitoring, geotechnical investigations.
   • Inspect entire asphalt paving operations and concrete to assure conformity to specifications.
   • Inspect installation of mechanical and plumbing systems to comply with construction drawings and specifications.

   More engineering construction inspector duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your engineering construction inspector job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An engineering construction inspector can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, engineering construction inspectors' average salary in kentucky is 50% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level engineering construction inspectors 53% less than senior-level engineering construction inspectors.
   • Certifications. An engineering construction inspector with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an engineering construction inspector's salary.

   Average engineering construction inspector salary

   $51,630yearly

   $24.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level engineering construction inspector salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average engineering construction inspector salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$67,746	$33
   2	New York	$66,647	$32
   3	Minnesota	$65,190	$31
   4	Connecticut	$63,989	$31
   5	Kansas	$60,282	$29
   6	Wisconsin	$57,927	$28
   7	Michigan	$57,753	$28
   8	New Mexico	$56,227	$27
   9	Illinois	$54,621	$26
   10	Maryland	$52,754	$25
   11	Texas	$50,880	$24
   12	Tennessee	$50,708	$24
   13	Florida	$50,282	$24
   14	Arizona	$49,690	$24
   15	Ohio	$49,114	$24
   16	District of Columbia	$48,893	$24
   17	South Carolina	$47,796	$23
   18	Virginia	$47,362	$23
   19	Utah	$46,964	$23
   20	North Carolina	$45,504	$22

   Average engineering construction inspector salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Jacobs Engineering Group	$73,260	$35.22
   2	Entech Engineering	$71,544	$34.40
   3	T.Y. Lin International	$69,721	$33.52	55
   4	Collins Engineers	$69,453	$33.39	35
   5	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$68,343	$32.86	483
   6	Gannett Fleming	$67,660	$32.53	137
   7	Kimley-Horn	$65,610	$31.54	335
   8	Johnson Mirmiran & Thompson Inc	$65,109	$31.30	199
   9	Obec	$63,975	$30.76	2
   10	Moffatt & Nichol	$62,173	$29.89	14
   11	DOWL	$61,773	$29.70	9
   12	Leidos	$60,097	$28.89	183
   13	Dona Ana County	$56,941	$27.38
   14	Quinn	$55,495	$26.68	2
   15	Engineering Consulting Services	$55,227	$26.55	101
   16	RESOURCE	$52,493	$25.24
   17	Apex Companies	$52,397	$25.19	7
   18	Murraysmith	$51,532	$24.77
   19	City of Norfolk	$51,529	$24.77	1
   20	Ardmore Roderick	$51,271	$24.65	2

4. Writing an engineering construction inspector job description

   A good engineering construction inspector job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an engineering construction inspector job description:

   Engineering construction inspector job description example

   Our transportation team helps improve the connectivity of the community through solutions that support the safe and efficient movement of goods, services and people.
   
   The Transportation Market of Gresham Smith is actively seeking an experienced and talented Transportation Construction Engineering and Inspection (CE&I) Manager.This position is responsible for delivering construction projects which includes coordination and communication with staff, client, designers, and other stakeholders to ensure successful project completion on time and within budget. You will be joining a team of highly successful professionals with exceptional knowledge and experience in the transportation industry.
   Responsibilities:
   
   In this role, we will expect you to:
   Direct and supervise staff assignments on construction projects Responsible for overall construction project delivery Manage project financials and budgets Coordinate and communicate with all project personnel including client and contractors Responsible for project quality and final deliverables Manage multiple project concurrently Hold meetings and prepare presentations and reports as needed Work with the CEI Area Leader for planning and strategic growth opportunities Assist the CEI Area Leader with Marketing and Business Development tasks as needed Perform other duties as assigned
   The selected could also function as an advisor on both public and private projects regionally in addition to their project responsibilities; and assist with strategic planning, marketing proposals, and interviews.
   
   This position will be based out of Gresham Smith's Nashville, TN location.
   
   Minimum Qualifications
   
   10+ years of experience, including 5 years in Tennessee (preferred), in engineering management related to the transportation industry (e.g., roadway/highway, bridge/structures, rail/transit) is required. BS in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field required. Valid driver's license Must be willing to travel on a routine basis; this travel will include both local field and office sites A demonstrated track record of strong leadership skills Must have effective verbal and written communication skills Must have critical thinking skills along with the ability to plan and conceptualize Local candidates are preferred
   Gresham Smith is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Gresham Smith provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, status as a protected veteran, disability or any other classification protected by law.
   
   Gresham Smith will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, headhunters, contract recruiters, search firms or employment agencies. An executed GRESHAM PLACEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT (PSA) is required prior to any payment obligation for either a referral or recruiter fee.In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously executed PSA, GRESHAM SMITH explicitly reserves the right to recruit and hire those candidate(s) at its discretion, and without any financial obligation whatsoever to the recruiter or agency.Any such unsolicited resume or candidate contact information, including those submitted directly to GRESHAM SMITH'S hiring managers or any other employee, shall become the property of GRESHAM SMITH upon receipt.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find engineering construction inspectors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit engineering construction inspectors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 engineering construction inspector

   Once you have selected a candidate for the engineering construction inspector position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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 an engineering construction inspector?