Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between plans examiners and construction inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a plans examiner and a construction inspector. Additionally, a plans examiner has an average salary of $59,697, which is higher than the $52,306 average annual salary of a construction inspector.
The top three skills for a plans examiner include plumbing, customer service and life safety. The most important skills for a construction inspector are asphalt, ACI, and construction inspection.
| Plans Examiner | Construction Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $59,697 | $52,306 |
| Hourly rate | $28.70 | $25.15 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 4,018 | 42,007 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
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.
Plans examiners and construction inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plans Examiner | Construction Inspector | |
| Average salary | $59,697 | $52,306 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $85,000 | Between $36,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairfield, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Icma-rc | Orange County Sanitation District |
| Best paying industry | Government | Professional |
There are a few differences between a plans examiner and a construction inspector in terms of educational background:
| Plans Examiner | Construction Inspector | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between plans examiners' and construction inspectors' demographics:
| Plans Examiner | Construction Inspector | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 5% | 5% |