How to hire a project inspector

How to hire a project inspector, step by step

Here's a step-by-step project inspector hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a project inspector job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new project 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 project inspector you need to hire. Certain project 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

   Hiring the perfect project inspector also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents project inspector salaries for various positions.

   Type of Project Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
   Project Inspector	Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.	$18-57
   Plans Examiner	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... Show more	$19-40
   Construction Analyst	A Construction Analyst prepares statements, annual financial reports, exhibits, transmittal letters, schedules, statistical tables, management analysis, and management discussion. They handle business forecast analysis, cash flow projection analysis, statistical report analysis, government requirement analysis, financial plan analysis, budget analysis, and forecast analysis... Show more	$25-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Construction Projects
   • Asphalt
   • Traffic Control
   • Inspection Reports
   • DOT
   • Construction Management
   • Plumbing
   • As-Built
   • Construction Inspection
   • ODOT
   • Safety Standards
   • API
   • Construction Methods
   • NDE

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage third party contractors including safety oversight, environmental design specification compliance, and similar construction specifications and requirements.
   • Work with OSHA as immediate response of safety issues at nuclear power plants.
   • Coordinate with designers drawing clarification's and RFI's to ensure contractor work progress.
   • Verify NCDOT bridge design plans to ensure span lengths, materials, and directions match with WIGINSinformation.
   • Assist with payroll functions including collecting time sheets, entering time and attendance information into automated database and disbursing paychecks.
   • Maintain and create engineering blue prints using AutoCAD.

   More project inspector duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your project inspector job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A project inspector salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a project inspector in Florida may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level project inspector usually earns less than a senior-level project inspector. Additionally, a project inspector with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average project inspector salary

   $68,048yearly

   $32.72 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level project inspector salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average project inspector salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$102,424	$49
   2	Montana	$81,956	$39
   3	Virginia	$80,226	$39
   4	Colorado	$74,427	$36
   5	Maryland	$74,286	$36
   6	Pennsylvania	$66,985	$32
   7	Ohio	$64,286	$31
   8	Arizona	$63,640	$31
   9	Texas	$62,853	$30
   10	Indiana	$61,959	$30
   11	Florida	$55,354	$27
   12	Georgia	$51,746	$25
   13	Oklahoma	$48,489	$23

   Average project inspector salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Colonial Pipeline	$132,803	$63.85	1
   2	Arizona Public Service	$97,623	$46.93
   3	Pinnacle West Capital	$95,444	$45.89	1
   4	Amazon	$90,739	$43.62	23
   5	Reno, NV	$87,113	$41.88	1
   6	Whitman	$80,166	$38.54	28
   7	Appalachian Regional Healthcare	$78,869	$37.92
   8	Tetra Tech	$71,113	$34.19	29
   9	Morrison-Maierle	$70,520	$33.90
   10	Washington State University	$68,497	$32.93	1
   11	Travis County	$67,700	$32.55	2
   12	Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr.	$66,685	$32.06	4
   13	Nueces County	$66,220	$31.84	1
   14	The State of Oregon	$64,425	$30.97	4
   15	Bureau Veritas	$62,795	$30.19	175
   16	Virginia Commonwealth University	$47,836	$23.00
   17	Indiana State Police	$38,317	$18.42	6

4. Writing a project inspector job description

   A project inspector 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 project inspector job description:

   Project inspector job description example

   Performs quality control and inspection services on construction projects. Ensures the quality of materials and equipment in any phase of manufacture, shop, or field fabrication, delivery, or installation, comply with contract documents. Responsible for a portfolio of two or more projects with an average value of over $50M.Job Duties
   
   * Coordinates system-wide inspection processes as assigned. Ensures critical activities are achieved in a timely manner and in accordance with facilities inspections protocol.
   
   * Performs jobsite walkthrough inspections to ensure procedures are followed and materials conform to contract specifications. Inspects work for compliance with standards, details, plans, and best practices.
   
   * Creates and maintains detailed and accurate project inspection documentation in both electronic file format as well as hard copy. Compiles and reviews contract documents and reports on inspection status, contract compliance, and quality control.
   
   * In cooperation and coordination with the FP&C Project Management team, communicates with clients, co-workers, university stakeholders, and project team members, meeting needs within project scope and through core values and timely communication.
   * Identifies discrepancies or conflicts within construction documents.
   * Monitors safety and traffic control procedures on assigned sites. Informs affected parties of potential noise, utilities interruptions, and other interference to normal activities.
   * Develops and maintains professional working relationships with construction contractors, subcontractors and consulting teams.
   * Provides mentoring and coaching to Facilities Project Inspectors as assigned.
   * Monitors construction project closeout, including warranties, operating manuals, and completion verification.
   Ensures correct and timely construction project closeout, including warranties, operating manuals, and completion verification. Performs other job-related duties as required.
   
   EEO/AA Bachelors and 7 years experience
   
   Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job-related 4 year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed. Requires a minimum of seven (7) years of directly job-related experience.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find project inspectors 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 project inspectors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level project inspectors 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.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your project inspector job on Zippia to find and attract quality project inspector candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit project inspectors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 project inspector

   Once you have selected a candidate for the project inspector 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 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new project inspector. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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