Building site inspector
Building site inspectors check the quality and safety of construction work.
Average annual salary (starting - experienced): £21,000 - £50,000
Typical hours (a week): 41 - 43
How to become a building site inspector
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
University
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:
- construction
- civil engineering
- surveying
University (Entry requirements)
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You could do a construction technical professional advanced apprenticeship or construction site supervision higher apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship (Entry requirements)
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
You could work as a site tradesperson, building technician or surveying assistant and move up to become a site inspector through on-the-job training.
Direct application
You could apply directly to work as a building site inspector. To do this, you'll need several years' construction experience. Qualifications in health and safety will also be useful.
More info
Registration
- you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate, which offers professional development and technical advice to people working in the building industry.
Further information
You'll find more advice on how to become a building site inspector from Go Construct.
What it takes
Skills & Knowledge
You'll need:
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
What you'll do
Day to day
Your duties will include:
- making sure that work is following project plans
- measuring and sampling building materials to check their quality
- finding defects and recommending ways to fix them
- monitoring work progress
- writing reports for construction managers and clients
Working environment
You could work in an office or on a construction site. You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
Career path & progression
With experience, you could move into site management, building surveying, civil engineering or construction management. You could also set up your own site inspection business and work as a consultant, or move into training. You may need to become a member of the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate (ICWCI).