How to hire a permit specialist

How to hire a permit specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step permit specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a permit specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new permit specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a permit specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your permit specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a permit specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A permit specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, permit specialists 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of permit specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Permit Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Permit Specialist		$15-37
   Business Developer	A business developer specializes in conducting in-depth business analysis and crafting various strategies that would not just help a business grow, but also strengthen client base and brand awareness. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around identifying areas in need of improvement... Show more	$31-75
   Operations Coordinator	An operations coordinator's role is to oversee the progress of various departments in a company or organization, ensuring that all operations meet the set goals and adhere to the company's policies and regulations. An operations coordinator may also be responsible for supervising the procurement of supplies, contract negotiations, sales monitoring, and even maintenance operations within the company... Show more	$14-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GIS
   • Construction Drawings
   • Data Entry
   • PowerPoint
   • CAD
   • Phone Calls
   • Customer Accounts
   • Air Quality
   • Customer Service
   • Government Agencies
   • Regulatory Compliance
   • GPS
   • Building Permits
   • Air Dispersion Modeling

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage coordination, implementation and installation of next generation telemarketing system, an nt-base, client server environment.
   • Compile folders, documents, drawings, structural calculations, RF reports and applications for zoning and building submittals.
   • Work closely with FINRA and NFA to ensure proper licensing and registration requirements are meet at a firm level.
   • Inspect certifications for authenticity and adherence to FAA regulations.
   • Request documentation from agents to satisfy FINRA and compliance requirements.
   • Fulfill with all company policies/procedures, safety requirements, GMP regulations and customer requirements.

   More permit specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your permit specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A permit specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, permit specialists' average salary in alabama is 40% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level permit specialists 58% less than senior-level permit specialists.
   • Certifications. A permit specialist 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 a permit specialist's salary.

   Average permit specialist salary

   $51,620yearly

   $24.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level permit specialist salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average permit specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$68,700	$33
   2	Massachusetts	$60,661	$29
   3	California	$60,633	$29
   4	Washington	$59,739	$29
   5	Virginia	$56,560	$27
   6	Nevada	$55,605	$27
   7	Alaska	$55,600	$27
   8	Florida	$54,208	$26
   9	Oregon	$53,634	$26
   10	Rhode Island	$53,394	$26
   11	Louisiana	$53,220	$26
   12	Arizona	$52,878	$25
   13	Colorado	$52,505	$25
   14	Kansas	$52,276	$25
   15	Georgia	$49,356	$24
   16	Texas	$48,795	$23
   17	Minnesota	$47,733	$23
   18	Missouri	$45,959	$22
   19	Utah	$44,538	$21
   20	North Carolina	$44,188	$21

   Average permit specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Southern California Edison	$93,651	$45.02	25
   2	Crown Castle International	$77,814	$37.41	2
   3	Garver, LLC	$77,488	$37.25
   4	Jacobs Engineering Group	$75,908	$36.49
   5	Stantec	$73,106	$35.15	16
   6	AECOM	$71,304	$34.28	53
   7	Burns & McDonnell	$71,169	$34.22	6
   8	Knight Piésold	$69,584	$33.45
   9	Kimley-Horn	$69,345	$33.34	1
   10	GEI Consultants	$68,973	$33.16	3
   11	Enel X	$68,758	$33.06
   12	Tetra Tech	$67,673	$32.54	2
   13	Remington & Vernick Engineers	$67,538	$32.47
   14	VHB	$67,499	$32.45
   15	MasTec	$64,347	$30.94	10
   16	Edison International	$62,927	$30.25	13
   17	TRC Companies	$62,327	$29.96	1
   18	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$60,782	$29.22	7
   19	City of Tacoma	$60,591	$29.13
   20	Clark County	$59,813	$28.76

4. Writing a permit specialist job description

   A permit specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a permit specialist job description:

   Permit specialist job description example

   We're seeking an environmental scientist who can lead wetland permitting and compliance efforts for transportation, water and other infrastructure projects. Work will include the identification of permitting and regulatory requirements for a variety of public and private sector projects. Tasks will involve the development of permitting strategies; preparation of permit applications under federal and state wetlands protection laws and regulations including, but not limited to, Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, Clean Water Act 401 Water Quality Certificates, USACE Section 404 permits, federal and state endangered species laws and regulations, stormwater management programs/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and National Environmental Policy Act/ Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.
   
   You'd be asked to identify new project opportunities, assist with proposal development including technical scope development and budget estimates.
   
   We'd ask you to lead and manage field work to delineate wetlands, design and assess wetland mitigation areas, complete habitat assessments, understand drainage system design and regulatory requirements; and inform the design and troubleshooting of erosion and sedimentation controls during the construction phase of large infrastructure projects. In this role, the successful candidate would be required to mentor younger environmental scientists and technical staff.
   #BIA
   
   #newengland
   
   •BA or BS in a scientific or engineering discipline (Including: Environmental Science, Biology, Soils, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering).
   •MS in a scientific or engineering discipline (Including: Environmental Science, Biology, Soils, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering) or at least the minimum number of years of demonstrable professional experience (10+ years) in the field.
   •At least 7 years of demonstrable professional experience in wetland permitting and compliance is required.
   •Wetland delineation and habitat assessment experience is required.
   •Wetland mitigation design experience is required.
   •Wetland permitting compliance experience is required.
   •Excellent technical writing, verbal communication skills, and computer literacy is required.
   •A proven working knowledge of wetland permitting and compliance for large infrastructure projects is preferred with demonstrable project experience in New England, especially Massachusetts.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit permit specialists, 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 permit specialist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the permit specialist 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.

   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 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 a permit specialist?