How to hire an environmental inspector

How to hire an environmental inspector, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the environmental inspector you need to hire. Certain environmental inspector roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An environmental inspector's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, environmental 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.

   This list presents environmental inspector salaries for various positions.

   Type of Environmental Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
   Environmental Inspector		$13-31
   Compliance Analyst	A compliance analyst is in charge of ensuring that every operation and aspect in a company or facility adheres to the laws and regulations. They are also responsible for conducting regular inspections and assessments, producing reports and presentations, disseminating necessary information and reminders, researching existing policies and laws related to the industry, and remaining updated with new regulations... Show more	$18-41
   Environmental Compliance Manager	Environmental Compliance Managers are responsible for managing an organization's environmental performance and ensuring that they comply with environmental laws. Their main role is to assess their organization's current business practices and develop strategies that improve and meet environmental targets... Show more	$20-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Environmental Compliance
   • SWPPP
   • State Regulations
   • Pipeline Construction
   • GPS
   • Technical Reports
   • Inspection Reports
   • Construction Sites
   • Corrective Action
   • Water Quality
   • Construction Projects
   • OSHA
   • Hazardous Waste
   • NPDES

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage environmental team, implement SWPPP.
   • Perform fit test, EPA regulate air sampling, training and scheduling and manage HealthRX database.
   • Provide EHS regulatory compliance services to several federal government clients and manage hazardous waste documentation databases.
   • Ensure compliance with NPDES, SWPPP, and SPPC.
   • Utilize GIS skills in sewer mapping and GPS field data collection.
   • Interface with OSHA, FEMA, DCED, EPA, USACOE, PADEP, PADOT local municipalities and contractors.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your environmental inspector job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An environmental inspector salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, environmental inspectors' average salary in arkansas is 41% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level environmental inspectors earn 55% less than senior-level environmental inspectors.
   • Certifications. An environmental inspector with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an environmental inspector's salary.

   Average environmental inspector salary

   $43,952yearly

   $21.13 hourly rate

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   Entry-level environmental inspector salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing an environmental inspector job description

   A good environmental 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 environmental inspector job description:

   Environmental inspector job description example

   **What We're Looking For**
   
   The Senior Environmental Inspector will be responsible for ensuring environmental compliance throughout the construction of complex transportation improvement projects. This will involve serving as an independent monitor on active construction sites in accordance with state and federal environmental permits. Demonstrated knowledge of wetlands, stormwater management, sediment & erosion control, hazardous materials, and air & noise abatement measures is required.
   
   Primary Focus Will Include:
   
   + Construction oversight and review of contractor submittals to verify compliance with environmental permits and contract specifications.
   
   + Coordination with US Army Corps, MassDEP and local Conservation Commissions on permit amendments/modifications and design change submittals during construction
   
   + Manage and track numerous open tasks with quick turnaround times to help ensure construction progresses without impact to the construction schedule
   
   + Approximately 30-60% of the time performing field inspections and/or oversight
   
   Preferred Qualifications and Skills:
   
   + 10 years' experience in wetland protection, erosion and sedimentation control, wetland monitoring, site drainage, stormwater management, and general site construction
   
   + Experience with construction Health and Safety Plans with hazardous material safety experience preferred
   
   + Experience with the various environmental regulations including the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, 401 Water Quality Certification, Chapter 91, and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan.
   
   **What You'll Need**
   
   Essential Functions:
   
   + Under minimal direction, leads the collection and analyzing of data obtained for projects.
   
   + Determines or develops best methodology and technical approaches for conducting analysis in field work; sets up test equipment as necessary to obtain scientific data.
   
   + Examines and evaluates present and future potential environmental science effects relating to the planning, design, and construction of proposed projects.
   
   + Serves as task lead or principal author in the preparation of reports, on environmental science effects of projects.
   
   + Provides technical scientific support on environmental issues to project managers during the planning, design or construction of projects.
   
   + Performs review of work to ensure the design or construction are in compliance with design criteria and scientific specifications and determines the need for additional investigations, studies, or alternate plans or designs if necessary.
   
   + Prioritizes and participates the marketing and proposal preparation of potential opportunities or projects.
   
   + Leads the preparation of applications and supporting documents for local, state, and federal environmental permits as well as other regulatory compliance laws and regulations.
   
   + Organizes and participates in public meetings. Attends various meetings with clients, other engineering firms, and staff and may lead discussion on environmental science issues.
   
   + Mentors junior staff, provides recruiting recommendations and performance feedback.
   
   + Performs other duties as assigned.
   
   Minimum Qualifications:
   
   + Bachelor's degree in Geology, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Archeology, Anthropology, or related field and 8 years relevant experience
   
   + Master's Degree in Geology, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Archeology, Anthropology, or related field and 7 years of relevant experience
   
   **Additional Information**
   
   Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards
   
   Click here to learn more about EOE including disability and vet
   
   Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
   
   \#RL
   
   Locations:
   
   Boston, MA
   
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   _NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES:_
   
   _HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant's resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees._
   
   **Job Type:** Regular
   
   **Full/Part Time:** Full time
   
   **Job Category:** Planning Group
   
   **ReqID:** R-09456

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right environmental 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 environmental inspector job on Zippia to find and recruit environmental inspector candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting environmental inspectors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 environmental inspector

   Once you've decided on a perfect environmental inspector candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   To prepare for the new environmental inspector first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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