How to hire a senior inspector

How to hire a senior inspector, step by step

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

What does a senior inspector do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a senior inspector, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a senior inspector to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a senior inspector that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior inspectors.

   Type of Senior Inspector	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Inspector	Quality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.	$16-38
   Test Operator	The job of a test operator is to test the functionality of electronic components, assemblies, units, parts, and systems in a manner consistent with standard procedures. As a test operator, you will perform a variety of duties that include working with engineers to ensure accurate procedures are being followed, perform different mechanical assembly operations, and inspecting products for the correct orientation and placement... Show more	$12-23
   Quality Assurance Inspector	Quality Assurance Auditors are employees who ensure the adherence of other employees to company processes and guidelines. They are expected to be experts on quality assurance processes and procedures... Show more	$12-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Asphalt
   • Traffic Control
   • Construction Inspection
   • NDT
   • Inspection Reports
   • PT
   • OSHA
   • Construction Management
   • FDOT
   • SR
   • API
   • Liquid Penetrant
   • Erosion Control
   • Fall Protection

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage contractors and consultants performing compliance relate work including MTR and document control.
   • Conduct QA tests on questionable motherboards/CPU's and accomplish environmental tests on new PC models.
   • Coordinate joint surveys with SATORP inspectors and manage clearance of all issue active LBE and NCR.
   • Maintain active certifications in SMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and GMAW welding processes.
   • Work with ASME, API, AWS, ANSI, ASTM and NACE codes and specifications.
   • Experience mostly in GTAW and GMAW welding procedures.

   More senior inspector duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $53,511yearly

   $25.73 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior inspector salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average senior inspector salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$80,771	$39
   2	Washington	$73,328	$35
   3	New York	$68,153	$33
   4	Virginia	$64,286	$31
   5	Maryland	$61,297	$29
   6	California	$60,518	$29
   7	Arizona	$59,930	$29
   8	Nevada	$58,610	$28
   9	Utah	$55,068	$26
   10	Texas	$54,450	$26
   11	Colorado	$54,359	$26
   12	Florida	$51,219	$25
   13	Minnesota	$50,852	$24
   14	Missouri	$50,758	$24
   15	Kansas	$49,261	$24
   16	Michigan	$46,734	$22
   17	Indiana	$46,479	$22
   18	Tennessee	$46,343	$22
   19	Alabama	$43,266	$21
   20	Georgia	$43,024	$21

   Average senior inspector salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PBF Energy	$104,418	$50.20
   2	Salt River Project	$91,441	$43.96
   3	Constellation Energy Partners	$85,657	$41.18
   4	Aviation Technology Group	$79,976	$38.45
   5	RS&H	$77,583	$37.30	37
   6	Siemens	$76,201	$36.64	13
   7	Volkert	$75,770	$36.43	109
   8	Barnes Group	$73,156	$35.17	6
   9	Jacobs Engineering Group	$72,841	$35.02
   10	Hill International	$70,345	$33.82	23
   11	Halff Associates	$67,560	$32.48	1
   12	University of California-Berkeley	$67,110	$32.26
   13	AECOM	$66,851	$32.14	161
   14	Telephonics	$66,009	$31.74
   15	Stantec	$65,165	$31.33	91
   16	HDR	$62,877	$30.23	46
   17	Carollo Engineers	$61,532	$29.58	13
   18	Northrop Grumman	$61,303	$29.47	17
   19	Lockheed Martin	$61,014	$29.33	55
   20	UCI Health	$60,723	$29.19

4. Writing a senior inspector job description

   A good senior inspector job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior inspector job description:

   Senior inspector job description example

   Current MES Employees who are interested in applying for this position must visit the Internal MES Careers Page by going to their Workday Dashboard, clicking on the Career icon and selecting Find Jobs.
   
   This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading team that provides environmental solutions to the public and private sectors throughout the State of Maryland.
   Job Description:
   Maryland Environmental Service has an opening for an Inspector/Senior Inspector to join the Environmental and Technical Services Group at MES's Headquarters facility in Millersville, MD. This position will provide field support through inspection of stormwater management facilities during construction, as well as continual inspection of sediment and erosion control measures on-site. The main duties for this position will include preparing technical inspection documentation, maintaining an up-to-date log of contractor Requests For Information (RFIs), and contractor oversight. While the majority of inspection activities are likely in Prince George's County, other inspection or environmental duties may also take place elsewhere throughout the state as project needs arise.
   
   Estimated Pay Range:
   $36,206.83 - $69,698.42
   
   Benefits:
   Health Insurance with choice of medical plan and prescription, dental, vision, and life and disability insurance options, along with flexible spending accounts 401K retirement savings program with generous agency match Paid vacation, personal and sick leave Ten paid holidays per year Tuition assistance
   
   Minimum Requirements:
   Graduation from a standard high school or GED plus 1-3 years of experience as a construction inspector. Candidate with MDE's Erosion and Sediment Control Certification (formerly Green Card Certification) preferred. Must have a valid driver's license with less than five points, possess the ability to lift 50 pounds and possess strong communication skills, both orally and in writing. Must be computer literate, specifically with respect to spreadsheets and word processing. Must have the ability to be self-directed as experience with the program increases; must be able to successfully juggle multiple activities at once.
   
   This position will be open until filled.
   
   Maryland Environmental Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. MES does not participate in programs that require sponsorship for work visas.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find senior 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 senior inspector job on Zippia to find and recruit senior inspector candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with senior 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 senior inspector

   Once you've selected the best senior 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new senior 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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How much does it cost to hire a senior inspector?