How To Become A Utility Inspector: What It Is and Career Path

What is a utility inspector and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

If you have ever been involved in the construction business or have had construction work done, you know that there are many people involved in the project. It involves the contractor or the construction company and various engineers who need to sign off on your plan, inspectors who need to check the construction, and even the area representative gets involved at times. One of the inspectors that need to check the project is the Utility Inspector.

Utility inspectors assess sewer pipes, electric turbines, and other equipment related to utilities. They examine each component and ensure that they are working properly. They also check whether the specifications in the approved plan were followed in the actually constructed facility. They also ensure that the safety and the local regulations were considered and ultimately followed during the construction of the utility equipment.

Utility inspectors also recommend ways to fix problems and faulty equipment. If you are meticulous and detail-oriented, this would be a good role for you. You need to be strict but approachable at the same time.

ScoreUtility InspectorUS Average

Salary

3.4

Avg. Salary $43,725

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.4

Growth Rate -4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.90%

Asian 3.40%

Black or African American 8.30%

Hispanic or Latino 13.02%

Unknown 5.75%

White 68.64%

Gender

female 8.05%

male 91.95%

Age - 52

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52

Stress Level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.4

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.4

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Newest jobs for Utility Inspector in Columbus, OH

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Key steps to become a utility inspector

Explore utility inspector education requirements

Most common utility inspector degrees

High School Diploma

33.2 %

Bachelor's

29.1 %

Associate

24.8 %

Start to develop specific utility inspector skills

Skills	Percentages
Pipeline Construction	18.26%
Gas Meters	12.10%
Backfill	11.46%
Safety Procedures	6.19%
Utility Poles	5.46%

Complete relevant utility inspector training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New utility inspectors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a utility inspector based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real utility inspector resumes.

Research utility inspector duties and responsibilities

Remain compliant with API 1104 and Enogex WPS's and manage technical documents and information sharing.
Inspect all coating application to ensure proper application and WFT is achieved per clients and manufacturers specifications and standards.
Document heat numbers of pipe and x-ray numbers and GPS coordinates of welds.
Conduct internal quality audits to ensure compliance with all FAA, EASA, OSHA and ISO regularity compliance.

Prepare your utility inspector resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your utility inspector resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a utility inspector resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Utility Inspector Resume templates

Build a professional Utility Inspector resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Utility Inspector resume.

Apply for utility inspector jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a utility inspector job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do utility inspectors rate their job?