How to hire a public works inspector

How to hire a public works inspector, step by step

Here's a step-by-step public works 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 public works inspector job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new public works inspector
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your public works inspector 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 public works inspector 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

   Hiring the perfect public works 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 shows salaries for various types of public works inspectors.

   Type of Public Works Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
   Public Works Inspector		$13-40
   Construction Inspector	A construction inspector is a professional 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... Show more	$17-36
   Property Inspector	If you own a home and in a relatively nice neighborhood, then it's likely that your place was inspected and approved by a property inspector. Also called Home Inspectors, these people are responsible for evaluating both old and new properties whether they adhere to local policies, permits, and regulations... Show more	$15-34

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Asphalt
   • Construction Projects
   • Traffic Control
   • Public Works
   • Construction Sites
   • Construction Methods
   • Construction Inspection
   • OSHA
   • Development Projects
   • Construction Materials
   • City Standards
   • Storm Drains
   • Inspection Reports
   • Private Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate, manage, and conduct geotechnical engineering and engineering geology subsurface investigations.
   • Inspect all new construct ion city public works projects, including water, sewer, asphalt, and concrete.
   • Provide QA-QC on GIS files.
   • Coordinate with the contractor and enforces safety rule and regulation according to OSHA.
   • Work consist of calibration and installation of many electronic transmitters used in monitoring power boiler operations.
   • Verify quantities for contract change orders and progress payments, and review submittals per contract, and RFI's.

   More public works inspector duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your public works inspector job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A public works 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 public works inspector in South Carolina may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level public works inspector usually earns less than a senior-level public works inspector. Additionally, a public works 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 public works inspector salary

   $48,864yearly

   $23.49 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level public works inspector salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average public works inspector salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$66,635	$32
   2	Pennsylvania	$57,090	$27
   3	Arizona	$55,482	$27
   4	Illinois	$55,046	$26
   5	Oregon	$50,164	$24
   6	Texas	$44,235	$21
   7	Nevada	$40,650	$20
   8	Utah	$38,819	$19
   9	Kentucky	$32,958	$16
   10	Missouri	$32,716	$16
   11	Colorado	$31,533	$15

   Average public works inspector salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Willdan	$73,834	$35.50	48
   2	City of Louisville	$53,458	$25.70
   3	Bureau Veritas	$50,818	$24.43	152
   4	City of Visalia	$50,668	$24.36
   5	County of Kauaʻi	$50,639	$24.35
   6	City of Pittsburgh	$49,749	$23.92
   7	City of Scottsdale	$49,644	$23.87
   8	Minnesota Limited	$49,127	$23.62
   9	San Bernardino County	$48,698	$23.41
   10	City of Dallas Employees	$48,603	$23.37	1
   11	City of Portland	$47,386	$22.78
   12	City of Davis	$46,624	$22.42
   13	City of Reno	$46,337	$22.28
   14	City of Astoria	$45,859	$22.05
   15	City of Santa Monica	$45,789	$22.01	1
   16	City of Renton	$45,510	$21.88	2
   17	City of Newport	$45,254	$21.76
   18	City of Union City	$45,239	$21.75	1
   19	City of Collinsville	$44,969	$21.62
   20	City of Henderson	$44,700	$21.49

4. Writing a public works inspector job description

   A job description for a public works inspector role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a public works inspector job description:

   Public works inspector job description example

   PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY
   
   For City of Santa Barbara Employees Only
   
   The City of Santa Barbara Public Works Departmentis seeking a knowledgeable Senior Public Works Inspector.This positionperforms the more complex and difficult technical public and private improvement construction inspection activities in enforcing compliance with City codes, regulations, and ordinances; to review and resolve complaints; and to perform a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility.
   
   Distinguishing Characteristics
   
   This is the advanced journey level class in the Public Works Inspector series. Positions at this level are distinguished from the Public Works Inspector II within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series including coordinating and overseeing the work of staff, and by the performance of the most complex tasks associated with construction inspections and plan examinations. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.
   
   EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
   
   Knowledgeof:
   
   * Administers and assists in the administration of construction projects; schedules and chairs preconstruction meetings. Makes contact with contractors and public utilities to coordinate timing of construction activities; initiates written bulletins and change orders; verifies quantities and prepares progress payments; and prepares progress reports of construction activities.
   * Operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive public works construction inspection program.
   * Principles of lead supervision and training.
   * Methods and techniques of construction inspection.
   * Codes and ordinances enforced by the City related to public works construction.
   * Complex principles and techniques of construction inspection and plans examining work.
   * Principle of structural design and engineering mathematics.
   * Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
   * Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
   
   Ability to:
   
   * Independently perform the most complex and difficult construction inspection activities.
   * Interpret, explain, and enforce Department policies and procedures.
   * Interpret and apply pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.
   * Prepare clear and concise reports.
   * Read and interpret complex construction plans, specifications and codes.
   * Determine if construction conforms to plans, specifications, and government codes.
   * Apply technical knowledge and follow proper inspection techniques to examine workmanship and materials and detect deviations.
   * Enforce necessary regulations with firmness and tact.
   * Work independently in the absence of supervision.
   * Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
   * Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
   * Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities
   
   EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES
   
   Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
   
   Experience:
   
   Three (3) years of increasingly responsible construction inspection and plans examining experience.
   
   Education and/or Training:
   
   Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by advanced, specialized training in the building and construction trades.
   
   License, Certificate and/or Other Requirements:
   
   Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license.
   
   SELECTION PROCESS
   
   It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as "See application", "Extensive Experience", or "See Resume" are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.
   
   The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.
   
   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
   
   There is currently one (1)vacancy within the Public Works Department.
   
   Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.
   
   CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find public works inspectors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your public works inspector job on Zippia to find and recruit public works inspector candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting public works inspectors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 public works inspector

   Once you've selected the best public works inspector candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new public works inspector. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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