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The differences between general foremen and construction inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a general foreman, becoming a construction inspector takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a construction inspector has an average salary of $52,306, which is higher than the $48,517 average annual salary of a general foreman.
The top three skills for a general foreman include safety procedures, OSHA and safety rules. The most important skills for a construction inspector are asphalt, ACI, and construction inspection.
| General Foreman | Construction Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $48,517 | $52,306 |
| Hourly rate | $23.33 | $25.15 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 49,875 | 42,007 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Using their knowledge and expertise of all construction disciplines, a general foreman plans and oversees operations within a construction site to ensure that everything is running smoothly. They are typically in charge of conducting regular inspections, coordinating with engineers and architects, managing the budget and expenditures, supervising workers, and ensuring that the project moves according to the desired time frame. Furthermore, a general foreman implements all safety regulations and policies to ensure a safe and productive work environment for everyone.
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.
General foremen and construction inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Foreman | Construction Inspector | |
| Average salary | $48,517 | $52,306 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $62,000 | Between $36,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Louis, MO | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Pacifi | Orange County Sanitation District |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Professional |
There are a few differences between a general foreman and a construction inspector in terms of educational background:
| General Foreman | Construction Inspector | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | - | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between general foremen' and construction inspectors' demographics:
| General Foreman | Construction Inspector | |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 1.4% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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 Percentage | 2% | 5% |