What does a project inspector do?
Project inspector responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real project inspector resumes:
- 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.
- Design future projects in 2007 and 2009 AutoCAD 3D isometric view for presentation.
- Conduct individual team productivity and QA evaluations for monthly competencies used for quarterly bonus awards.
Project inspector skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Project Inspectors are proficient in Construction Projects, Asphalt, and Traffic Control. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Craft experience, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Project Inspectors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Construction Projects, 12%
Project Inspector on two public school modernization construction projects encompassing all aspects of construction inspection.
- Asphalt, 8%
Performed a repaving project that consisted of overlaying 168 parking spaces with 2 of asphalt and a fiber reinforcement fabric mat.
- Traffic Control, 8%
Conducted field testing and sampling, Reviewed and performed traffic control inspections.
- Inspection Reports, 7%
Developed inspection reports and weekly progress meetings minutes.
- DOT, 7%
DOT, Hurricane Wilma This was my first year being a project inspector.
- Construction Management, 7%
Perform construction management and inspection services for new construction roadway.
Common skills that a project inspector uses to do their job include "construction projects," "asphalt," and "traffic control." You can find details on the most important project inspector responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a project inspector to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what project inspectors do because "inspectors must be able to explain problems they discover and to write a report that clearly describes their findings." Additionally, a project inspector resume shows how project inspectors use communication skills: "maintained verbal communication with various contractors and laborers to ensure compliance with state/local building codes. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for project inspectors to perform their duties. For an example of how project inspector responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "inspectors thoroughly examine many different construction activities." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a project inspector: "maintained detailed records and files for construction projects. ".
Mechanical knowledge. For certain project inspector responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "mechanical knowledge." The day-to-day duties of a project inspector rely on this skill, as "inspectors use a variety of testing equipment to check complex systems and must therefore understand how the systems operate." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what project inspectors do: "performed inspections of all phases of construction (concrete, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, etc.). "
Physical stamina. A commonly-found skill in project inspector job descriptions, "physical stamina" is essential to what project inspectors do. Project inspector responsibilities rely on this skill because "inspectors are frequently on their feet and often climb and crawl through attics and other tight spaces." You can also see how project inspector duties rely on physical stamina in this resume example: "project management: focused extensively on processes and projects impacting the physical environment of stores. "
The three companies that hire the most project inspectors are:
- Tetra Tech3 project inspectors jobs
- Colonial Pipeline1 project inspectors jobs
- Reno, NV1 project inspectors jobs
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Compare different project inspectors
Project inspector vs. Building code administrator
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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a project inspector are more likely to require skills like "asphalt," "traffic control," "inspection reports," and "dot." On the other hand, a job as a building code administrator requires skills like "windows server," "maven," "java," and "build scripts." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Building code administrators tend to reach higher levels of education than project inspectors. In fact, building code administrators are 7.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Project inspector vs. Plans examiner
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. Construction Analysts also prepare review recommendations, create and modify current procedures and policies.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, project inspector responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "asphalt," "traffic control," "inspection reports," and "dot." Meanwhile, a plans examiner has duties that require skills in areas such as "certifications," "customer service," "life safety," and "fire protection." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Plans examiners tend to reach similar levels of education than project inspectors. In fact, they're 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project inspector vs. Grade checker
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a project inspector is likely to be skilled in "asphalt," "inspection reports," "dot," and "construction management," while a typical grade checker is skilled in "gps," "grade control," "hand tools," and "highway construction."
Most grade checkers achieve a lower degree level compared to project inspectors. For example, they're 7.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project inspector vs. Construction analyst
Types of project inspector
Updated January 8, 2025
