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How to hire a plans examiner

Plans examiner hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring plans examiners in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a plans examiner is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new plans examiner to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a plans examiner, step by step

To hire a plans examiner, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a plans examiner, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step plans examiner hiring guide:

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

What does a plans examiner do?

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what a plans examiner does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The plans examiner hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a plans examiner to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a plans examiner that fits the bill.

    This list presents plans examiner salaries for various positions.

    Type of Plans ExaminerDescriptionHourly rate
    Plans ExaminerConstruction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.$19-40
    Engineering Construction InspectorTypically, 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... Show more$16-35
    Residential Building InspectorA residential building inspector is in charge of ensuring that residential properties comply with the national building codes and construction requirements. They visit residential establishments and conduct thorough inspections to determine if the structure complies with safety and quality standards... Show more$13-39
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Plumbing
    • Customer Service
    • Life Safety
    • Fire Protection
    • Community Development
    • International Building
    • Building Permits
    • Construction Projects
    • Construction Methods
    • Residential Projects
    • Plan Review
    • Fire Code
    • Residential Buildings
    • Building Inspections
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage high volume case assignments to a final disposition of abatement, civil summons, criminal arrests or referral.
    • Issue permits to trade contractors for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and building construction work.
    • Determine if licensee is compliant with the BSA, AML, UCC and NACHA operating rules.
    • Certify FBI digital evidence extraction technician.
    • Inspect HVAC system and insulation.
    • Ensure compliance with all applicable ADA and OSHA safety regulations.
    More plans examiner duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your plans examiner job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A plans examiner salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, plans examiners' average salary in kentucky is 53% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level plans examiners earn 52% less than senior-level plans examiners.
    • Certifications. A plans examiner 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 a plans examiner's salary.

    Average plans examiner salary

    $59,697yearly

    $28.70 hourly rate

    Entry-level plans examiner salary
    $41,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 5, 2025

    Average plans examiner salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$90,500$44
    2Washington$83,519$40
    3Montana$79,895$38
    4New York$76,207$37
    5Nevada$73,618$35
    6Virginia$70,933$34
    7Colorado$61,896$30
    8Arizona$58,563$28
    9Utah$55,910$27
    10Pennsylvania$54,482$26
    11North Carolina$53,582$26
    12Idaho$51,556$25
    13Ohio$51,553$25
    14Texas$49,788$24
    15Florida$45,412$22
    16Kentucky$40,010$19

    Average plans examiner salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Icma-rc$96,952$46.611
    2City of Jacksonville$73,974$35.56
    3City of Seattle$71,364$34.31
    4City of San Antonio$70,156$33.731
    5Ada County$69,075$33.21
    6Arapahoe County$67,284$32.35
    7City of Las Vegas$66,804$32.12
    8Arlington County, VA$66,563$32.002
    9T.Y. Lin International$66,318$31.885
    10Stantec$65,999$31.7351
    11CSG$65,566$31.52
    12Boulder County$65,367$31.43
    13Coconino Community College$65,334$31.41
    14Minnesota Limited$65,315$31.40
    15Universal Engineering Sciences$64,972$31.241
    16International Society of Arboriculture$64,822$31.16
    17Bureau Veritas$64,633$31.0766
    18King County$64,412$30.97
    19City of Peoria$63,702$30.632
    20City of Largo$63,543$30.55
  4. Writing a plans examiner job description

    A plans examiner 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 plans examiner job description:

    Plans examiner job description example


  5. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND/OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
    • Completion of a High School Diploma or Equivalent required; Completions of an associate degree or 2-year college/technical school in Architecture, Engineering, Construction, or related field preferred; and
    • A minimum of two (2) years of commercial, residential, and component plans examining experience.
    • Prior experience as a commercial and/or residential builder, or as a commercial and/or residential building inspector with ICC Commercial and/or Residential Combination Inspector licenses preferred.

    • Or an equivalent combination of training and/or experience which evidences a comprehensive knowledge of required job duties and expectations.

    • Possess or obtain both ICC Residential and Commercial Plans Examiner certification within eighteen (18) months of employment required.

    • Spanish bi-lingual written and verbal communication skills highly preferred, but not required.

    • Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Texas Driver's License and be eligible for coverage under the City of Kyle vehicle insurance provider.

    Any individual who poses a direct threat to the health and safety of himself/herself or others in the workplace will be deemed not qualified for this position.


    PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORKING CONDITIONS: Physical Demands:

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hand and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk; hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty (20) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Any corrective eyewear required while operating a motor vehicle must be always worn while working.


    Working Environment:

    The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to high, precarious places; outside weather conditions; extreme cold; extreme heat and risk of electrical shock. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; explosives; risk of radiation and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud depending on office or construction site setting.



    This position description has been prepared to assist in defining job responsibilities, physical demands, and skills needed. It is not intended as a complete list of job duties, responsibilities, and/or essential functions. This description is no intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under supervision. The City of Kyle retains and reserves any or all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete, from any section of this document as it deems, in its judgment, to be proper.


    Please apply directly to our City of Kyle website here!
  • Post your job

    To find plans examiners for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any plans examiners they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level plans examiners with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    To find plans examiner candidates, you can consider the following options:
    • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
    • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as constructionjobs.
    • Post your job on free job posting websites.
  • Interview candidates

    Your first interview with plans examiner candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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.

  • Send a job offer and onboard your new plans examiner

    Once you've found the plans examiner candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them 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.

  • 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 plans examiner?

    There are different types of costs for hiring plans examiners. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new plans examiner employee.

    You can expect to pay around $59,697 per year for a plans examiner, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for plans examiners in the US typically range between $19 and $40 an hour.

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