Public works inspectors: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Public works inspectors ensure that the construction of federal, state, and local government water and sewer systems, highways, streets, bridges, and dams conforms to detailed contract specifications. Workers inspect excavation and fill operations, the placement of forms for concrete, concrete mixing and pouring, asphalt paving, and grading operations. Public works inspectors may specialize in highways, structural steel, reinforced concrete, or ditches. Others may specialize in dredging operations required for bridges, dams, or harbors.
- Education Required
- Most employers require inspectors to have at least a high school diploma, even for workers who have considerable related work experience.
- Training Required
- Training requirements vary by state, locality, and type of inspector. In general, construction and building inspectors receive much of their training on the job, although they must learn building codes and standards on their own. Working with an experienced inspector, they learn about inspection techniques; codes, ordinances, and regulations; contract specifications; and recordkeeping and reporting duties. Training also may include supervised onsite inspections.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 10% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Most states and local jurisdictions require construction and building inspectors to have a license or certification. Some states have individual licensing programs for construction and building inspectors. Others may require certification by associations such as the International Code Council, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, and the National Fire Protection Association.
- Median pay: How much do Construction and Building Inspectors make?
- $58,480 Annual Salary
- $28.12 per hour
Careers for Construction and Building Inspectors
- Architectural inspectors
- Bridge inspectors
- Building code inspectors
- Building inspectors
- Coating inspectors
- Construction inspectors
- Electrical inspectors
- Elevator inspectors
- Highway inspectors
- Home inspectors
- Inspectors, construction
- Mechanical inspectors
- Plan examiners
- Plumbing inspectors
- Residential building inspectors
- Specification inspectors