How to hire a safety inspector

How to hire a safety inspector, step by step

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

What does a safety inspector do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your safety 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 safety 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

   A safety inspector's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, safety inspectors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of safety inspector salaries for various roles:

   Type of Safety Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
   Safety Inspector	Occupational health and safety specialists analyze many types of work environments and work procedures. Specialists inspect workplaces for adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment... Show more	$16-33
   Public Health Internship	A public health internship provides students with a great learning opportunity to put into practice those educational principles and skills learned in the classroom. They will gain a better understanding and appreciation for the duties and responsibilities of full-time professionals in public health... Show more	$12-26
   Health & Safety Officer	A Health and Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring the workplace's safety and security to provide smooth operations and implement safety practices within the premises. They inspect the facilities and equipment's condition and report any failures and defects for immediate resolution... Show more	$17-40

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • OSHA
   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Inspections
   • Fire Protection
   • Safety Standards
   • Contractor Safety
   • Ladders
   • Safety Regulations
   • Safety Program
   • Safety Equipment
   • Safety Issues
   • Corrective Action
   • EPA
   • Safety Audits

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist with ergonomics assessments, assist in managing HAZMAT and chemical storage programs, and evaluate fire prevention plans.
   • Complete workshop and laboratory equipment safety for all university buildings for compliance with OSHA and other appropriate regulations.
   • Investigate and document incidents using accurate and industry relate terminology to protect against lawsuits and to provide OSHA with additional information.
   • Upgrade and assist with the maintenance of the facility MSDS system, in particular the raw material MSDS's.
   • Detail record keeping of JSAs, tool, ladder and PPE inspections.
   • Participate in new equipment planning and installation team activities to include PSM processes documentation and validation i.e.

   More safety inspector duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the safety inspector job description is a good way to get more applicants. A safety inspector salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a safety inspector in Kansas may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level safety inspector. Additionally, a safety inspector with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average safety inspector salary

   $48,765yearly

   $23.44 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level safety inspector salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

   Average safety inspector salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$61,395	$30
   2	New York	$59,391	$29
   3	Washington	$57,818	$28
   4	Massachusetts	$57,041	$27
   5	Pennsylvania	$55,977	$27
   6	Nevada	$53,860	$26
   7	Oregon	$52,471	$25
   8	Virginia	$51,872	$25
   9	Maine	$50,294	$24
   10	Wisconsin	$48,270	$23
   11	Ohio	$47,707	$23
   12	Texas	$44,158	$21
   13	Arizona	$43,345	$21
   14	South Carolina	$41,722	$20
   15	Alabama	$41,192	$20
   16	Idaho	$39,973	$19
   17	Florida	$37,541	$18
   18	Georgia	$37,043	$18

   Average safety inspector salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Volkert	$73,054	$35.12	109
   2	Fusion Technology	$69,457	$33.39
   3	State University of New York College at Cortland	$60,876	$29.27	2
   4	CentiMark	$57,905	$27.84	24
   5	Deschutes County	$57,773	$27.78
   6	ERM	$57,655	$27.72	114
   7	TRC Companies	$56,629	$27.23	33
   8	Eastman	$55,756	$26.81
   9	General Dynamics	$55,619	$26.74	34
   10	Department of Public Social Services	$54,097	$26.01
   11	Washington State University	$53,532	$25.74
   12	University at Buffalo	$53,283	$25.62	2
   13	Roehl Transport	$51,571	$24.79
   14	Metro Nashville	$50,863	$24.45
   15	Maine	$50,846	$24.45	6
   16	Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania	$50,753	$24.40
   17	City of Atlanta	$47,565	$22.87	2
   18	Texas	$46,947	$22.57	19
   19	State Of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission	$46,148	$22.19	8
   20	State of Ohio	$46,049	$22.14	8

4. Writing a safety inspector job description

   A safety 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 safety inspector job description:

   Safety inspector job description example

   Summary of Job Description:
   This Safety Specialist position will ensure that safety is present on all projects throughout the region and attend customer meetings as needed. This is a regional position that will cover 4 office locations in: Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando & Nashville and their related field work. This position is open to varying levels of experience and offers career growth based on performance.

   Job Qualifications:

   • Bachelor Degree in Safety or 5 years flooring/construction safety experience preferred
   • Knowledge of flooring procedures and safety preferred
   • Knowledge and understanding of OSHA Regulations required
   • Excellent communication/ writing skills
   • Analytical, leadership, interpersonal, problem solving and organizational/ time management skills
   • Excellent follow up skills
   • Superb investigative skills
   • THIS POSITION WILL REQUIRE OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL

   Safety Inspectors are a part of the Regional Management Team and report directly to the Regional Manager. This position involves the safety and risk management of multiple office locations and crews working in the assigned region.

   QuestMark / CentiMark is an Equal Opportunity & Drug Free Employer offering a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, competitive compensation and benefits that include:

   • Medical, Prescription and Dental insurance
   • Paid Life Insurance
   • Paid holidays and vacation
   • Bereavement leave
   • Short and long-term disability
   • Paid personal/sick days
   • Choice of a company vehicle with a complete maintenance and gas package or vehicle allowance
   • 401K plan
   • ESOP
   • Opportunities for advancement

   Interested, qualified candidates are encouraged to send resume w/salary history & requirements directly through this job posting.

   Drug Free Workplace - EOE (M/F/V/D) - E-Verify Employer

   Powered by JazzHR

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   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right safety inspector for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with safety inspectors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit safety inspectors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with safety inspector 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.

   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 safety inspector

   Once you have selected a candidate for the safety 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new safety 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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How much does it cost to hire a safety inspector?