Career profile · SOC ESC-EE243231

utilities inspector

Utilities inspectors examine products, systems and machiney such as sewer, water, gas or electric turbines ensuring they are built and functioning according to regulations. They write inspection reports and provide recommendations to improve the systems and repair the broken components.

utilities inspector utilities inspectors examine products, systems and machiney such as sewer, water, gas or electric turbines ensuring they are built and functioning according to regulations. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include quality assurance procedures, surveying, engineering principles, construction product regulation, electrical power safety regulations.

AI exposure
5.0/10
automation risk

Pay in the UK

UK: median £36,102 a year for Science, engineering and production technicians n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)

Middle half of full-time jobs: £29,401 to £46,772 a year

UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3119). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)

Pay in India (occupation group)

Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only utilities inspector, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.

Urban India
₹31,909 a month
Rural India
₹18,966 a month
All India
₹26,175 a month

Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report

Top skills

quality assurance procedures surveying engineering principles construction product regulation electrical power safety regulations monitor utility equipment check construction compliance undertake inspections comply with legal regulations manage health and safety standards

Knowledge you'll build

  • Building and Construction
  • Public Safety and Security
  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Design
  • Law and Government
  • Mathematics
  • Administration and Management

What you'd actually do

  • Approve building plans that meet required specifications.
  • Review and interpret plans, blueprints, site layouts, specifications, or construction methods to ensure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations.
  • Issue permits for construction, relocation, demolition, or occupancy.
  • Inspect bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, or foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety, or conformance to specifications and codes.
  • Monitor installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, or appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations.
  • Inspect and monitor construction sites to ensure adherence to safety standards, building codes, or specifications.

Tools & technology you'd use

Microsoft Excel hot Microsoft Office software hot Microsoft Outlook hot Microsoft Word hot Autodesk AutoCAD hot Intuit QuickBooks hot Microsoft PowerPoint hot Microsoft Project hot Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management hot SAP software hot Arc Second PocketCAD Automated permit system software

Frequently asked questions

What does utilities inspector do?

Utilities inspectors examine products, systems and machiney such as sewer, water, gas or electric turbines ensuring they are built and functioning according to regulations. They write inspection reports and provide recommendations to improve the systems and repair the broken components.

What skills does utilities inspector need?

The most in-demand skills for this role include quality assurance procedures, surveying, engineering principles, construction product regulation, electrical power safety regulations, monitor utility equipment. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.

Will AI replace utilities inspector?

Our AI-durability model gives utilities inspector a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.

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