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Stormwater Inspector Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Surface Water Inspector

Seattle, WA · On-site

$41.95 - $51.04/hr

The Stormwater Inspector conducts inspections of public and private properties, administers the City's Source Control and Pollution Prevention Assistance Programs, and works collaboratively with ...

Support construction inspection and code compliance staff by providing engineering evaluations and ... Understanding of Western Washington stormwater regulations, Low Impact Development (LID) principles ...

ENGINEER 1 - STORMWATER

Port Orchard, WA · On-site

$86K - $110K/yr

Support construction inspection and code compliance staff by providing engineering evaluations and ... Understanding of Western Washington stormwater regulations, Low Impact Development (LID) principles ...

Vactor Operator

Tacoma, WA · On-site

$22.50 - $28.50/hr

Utilization of stormwater inspection equipment to determine structure compliance * Attaching/removing vactor tubes to/from the boom of the truck * Lifting storm drain grates and putting them back in ...

Observe and inspect installation of underground utilities including stormwater, sanitary sewer, and potable water systems. * Support quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) efforts including ...

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Stormwater Inspector information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$17

$23

$32

How much do stormwater inspector jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for stormwater inspector in Seattle, WA is $23.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.77 and $26.80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How to become a water quality inspector?

To become a water quality inspector, typically one needs a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by postsecondary education or training in environmental science, biology, or related fields. Certification or licensing, such as the National Association of Wastewater Technicians (NAWT) certification, can enhance job prospects, and familiarity with sampling equipment and environmental regulations is important.

What are some common challenges faced by Stormwater Inspectors in the field?

Stormwater Inspectors often face challenges such as varying weather conditions, navigating complex site layouts, and ensuring compliance with evolving local and federal regulations. They must communicate effectively with construction crews, property owners, and municipal officials to address violations and recommend corrective actions. Additionally, balancing multiple site inspections and thorough documentation can be demanding, but these tasks are essential for maintaining environmental standards and public safety.

What Does a Stormwater Inspector Do?

As a stormwater inspector, you conduct preventative maintenance on stormwater facilities. Your responsibilities are to inspect facilities for issues, sample the water, and ensure the facility adheres to all federal compliance codes. Each inspection requires you to fill out a report documenting all of your findings. Other duties of a stormwater inspector include reviewing construction plans, using district software to monitor stormwater conditions, and maintaining positive public relations within your district. You may work on both private and public stormwater facilities, coordinating with your department to perform renovations and preventative maintenance.

How much do storm damage inspectors make?

Stormwater inspectors typically earn between $40,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Entry-level inspectors may start at lower wages, while experienced professionals with specialized knowledge can earn higher salaries. The role often requires knowledge of environmental regulations and inspection tools.

What qualifications do I need to be a quality inspector?

A stormwater inspector typically needs a high school diploma or equivalent, along with knowledge of environmental regulations and inspection procedures. Certifications such as the Certified Stormwater Inspector (CSI) or similar are often required or preferred. Strong attention to detail, communication skills, and familiarity with inspection tools and reporting are also important.

What type of inspectors make the most money?

Among inspection roles, senior or specialized inspectors such as environmental or construction inspectors tend to earn higher salaries, especially those with advanced certifications or extensive experience. Stormwater inspectors with additional training or certifications in environmental compliance can also command higher wages, particularly in regions with strict regulations or large infrastructure projects.

What is the difference between Stormwater Inspector vs Environmental Technician?

AspectStormwater InspectorEnvironmental Technician
CertificationsStormwater Pollution Prevention (SWPP), OSHA safetyEnvironmental certifications, OSHA safety
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, industrial facilitiesLaboratories, field sites, offices
Industry UsageConstruction, municipal, industrialEnvironmental consulting, research

Both roles often require environmental safety certifications and involve fieldwork. However, Stormwater Inspectors focus specifically on stormwater compliance at construction sites, while Environmental Technicians have broader environmental testing and analysis duties. The roles are complementary but distinct in scope and responsibilities.

What are Stormwater Inspectors?

Stormwater Inspectors are professionals responsible for monitoring and evaluating stormwater systems to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. They inspect construction sites, public works, and private properties to check for proper erosion and sediment control, and to prevent pollutants from entering waterways. Their work helps protect water quality by ensuring that stormwater runoff is managed effectively and according to local, state, and federal laws. Stormwater Inspectors often work for government agencies, environmental consulting firms, or private companies involved in construction and land development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Stormwater Inspector, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Stormwater Inspector, you need a solid understanding of environmental regulations, stormwater management practices, and inspection procedures, usually supported by a relevant degree or certification. Familiarity with GIS mapping software, inspection reporting systems, and knowledge of local, state, and federal compliance standards is essential. Strong attention to detail, effective communication, and problem-solving skills help inspectors work efficiently with contractors, property owners, and regulatory agencies. These abilities ensure thorough inspections, regulatory compliance, and environmental protection in stormwater management projects.
What are popular job titles related to Stormwater Inspector jobs in Seattle, WA? For Stormwater Inspector jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Stormwater Inspector jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Stormwater Inspector jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Stormwater Inspector jobs? Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Stormwater Inspector job openings:
Infographic showing various Stormwater Inspector job openings in Seattle, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,959 per year, or $23.5 per hour.

Surface Water Inspector

City of Shoreline

Seattle, WA • On-site

$41.95 - $51.04/hr

Other

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

GENERAL SUMMARY Shoreline is an inclusive City that endeavors to build a work culture which embraces diversity, encourages participation, and promotes equity. Shoreline's Surface Water Utility (SWU) is dedicated to protecting and restoring the City's streams, lakes, and waters of the Puget Sound through sustainable stormwater management and environmental stewardship. By safeguarding these vital natural resources, the SWU helps preserve healthy ecosystems, improve water quality, reduce flooding, and strengthen the community's climate resilience for generations to come.

As part of this meaningful and ongoing mission, the Surface Water Utility is seeking a Stormwater Inspector to join our team. The Stormwater Inspector conducts inspections of public and private properties, administers the City's Source Control and Pollution Prevention Assistance Programs, and works collaboratively with property owners, businesses, and contractors to promote compliance with stormwater regulations. This position also inspects active construction sites for erosion and sediment controls and newly constructed stormwater facilities to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and City standards.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about environmental protection, enjoys working in the field and with the public, and wants to make a lasting impact on the health of Shoreline's waterways. DEFINITION The position performs skilled field inspections of stormwater systems to ensure compliance with relevant regulations. It responds to complaints and reports of violations, such as illicit discharges, spills, and water quality concerns, and recommends action to correct.

This position supports compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Requirements include performing inspections of surface water facilities, construction site inspections for erosion control, illicit discharge detection and elimination, drainage complaint investigations, and general technical support in Public Works. SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Receives direction from assigned supervisor or manager.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES ESSENTIAL AND MARGINAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: General Essential Functions: Work with related software and programs to create and maintain data and maps that can be combined with geographically referenced data. Perform data analysis that includes importing, cleaning, transforming, validating, or modeling data with the purpose of understanding or making conclusions from the data for decision-making purposes. Investigate concerns or issues, meet with others to discuss, determine the cause, and develop solutions collaboratively with others.

May function as a technical Lead to supervise extra help or volunteer staff. Support the public engagement process by providing meeting assistance, preparation of materials, generating maps, or public notifications. Inspection Essential Functions: Perform water quality inspections of public and private sector surface water control facilities and stormwater facilities to verify compliance with relevant regulatory requirements, erosion and sediment control, or to ensure systems are running properly.

Set up, schedule and complete inspections and monitor and track inspection areas. Prepare and maintain inspection reports and records. Investigate pollution sources.

Determine maintenance work to bring water control facilities into compliance. Investigate drainage and discharge complaints, flooding and hazardous spill reports, provide logistical support for the City's abatement and enforcement, and assist parties with response to spills. Modify standards to reflect changing best practices.

Track labor costs and inspection progress. Analyze results, create and prioritize work orders, and track completion of work orders, managing information databases. Coordinate support from other areas and communicate with citizens who may be in an area affected by an inspection.

Assist with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, and State water quality and discharge permit programs. Assist Construction Inspectors review erosion control methods, remedies, violations, and enforcement of water quality standards. Marginal Functions: Perform a variety of office and field support duties not typically part of position assignment.

Perform water quality and quantity monitoring and data collection. Provide information and assist to resolve issues related to drainage issues. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Basic civil engineering principles and practices as applied to the design, development, construction, and maintenance of municipal engineering projects. Computer-aided design tools. Public works infrastructure.

Geographical information systems (GIS) principles, practices, and software use. Asset management software. Project management techniques.

General principles, practices, and standards of civil engineering. Drainage principles and practices. Technical aspects of stormwater management principles.

Principles of water resource inspections, including erosion and sediment control. Methods and techniques used to conduct on-site measurements and observations. Modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computers.

Applicable Federal, State, and local codes, laws and regulations. Construction and engineering standards, methods, and techniques. Traffic control safety for field operations.

Traffic data collection and analysis. Surface water hydraulics. Budget formulation.

Mathematics as applied to storm and surface water engineering work. Construction management. Ability to: Participate and work effectively in an organization committed to advancing principles and practices of equity and anti-racism.

Create documents utilizing AutoCAD. Understand and use GIS software. Read and interpret complex engineering plans, schematics, work orders, flow charts and technical manuals.

Exercise judgment in interpreting data from engineering documents. Use specialized testing and sampling equipment and tools. Conduct field evaluations to review systems under construction.

Perform and prepare engineering design for various projects. Work independently with minimal supervision. Interact with the public, engineering staff, government agencies, and contractors to exchange information and respond to requests and inquiries.

Communicate clearly and concisely, explaining complex information understandably, both orally and in writing. Provide professional and responsive service to all customers. Prioritize and complete multiple tasks.

Demonstrate attention to detail. Work under stressful situations. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Operate stream measurement and drainage analysis equipment. Read, interpret, and apply relevant Federal, State, and local regulatory requirements. Perform data collection, summary, and analysis, including testing, sampling, and analyzing water resources.

Provide analytical review and assessment and prepare reports related to area of assignment. Prepare contracts and maintain files. Experience and Training Guidelines Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Experience: Two or more years of related experience in computer aided design (CAD) and civil engineering technician related work including GIS; or two or more years in stormwater management or construction site inspection-related work; or two or more years in construction project management, storm or surface water maintenance management, budget preparation, management analysis, technical report preparation and presentation and public presentations. Training: Equivalent to a two-year degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil or environmental engineering, GIS, computer aided design (CAD), sciences or a related field. License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Washington State Driver's License.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION The City's mission is to fulfill the community's vision through highly valued public service. Our employees work relentlessly to achieve organizational goals while embracing the City's values. City Mission, Values, and Goals.

Working Conditions: Environmental Conditions: Office and field environment in all weather conditions; travel from site to site; extensive public contact. May be exposed to conditions and hazards from obstacles, heights, and open trenches associated with construction sites. Physical Conditions: Essential and marginal functions may require walking, standing, or sitting for prolonged periods of time, and for conducting work-in-progress inspections; near visual acuity for the review of technical engineering plans and specifications; communication with the public.

Lifting of up to 100 pounds, placing of field equipment for monitoring or measurement of conditions. REMOTE WORK ELIGIBILITY This position is eligible for remote work. The City's remote work policy, Employees Working Remotely, requires staff in positions eligible for remote work to work onsite a minimum of four days per pay period (every two weeks).

Full-time remote work is not an option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington Conditions Of Employment: All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.

This position requires the completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor. Possession of valid state-issued driver's license with successful results of pre-employment check of driving record with an "acceptable" rating or better according to the City's Using City Vehicles administrative policy. Application Process: To demonstrate skills and interest, please complete the application and provide answers to the Supplemental Questions which will help us determine your qualifications for the job.

(This application does NOT allow for attachments.) Recruitment Timeline: Review of applications: July 28 Panel Interviews: August 6 - 12 Reference and Checks: Week of August 20 Targeted Start Date: September Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the application or interview process will be accommodated to the extent reasonably possible. To request an accommodation, please call (206) 801-2243.