What is the salary of a Transportation Inspector?

The typical salary range is $60,024 - $120,049 per year.

Automotive, Aviation, & MaritimeStable

Transportation Inspector

Mid-level

Also known as: Admeasurer, Bridge Inspector, Cargo Inspector, Cargo Surveyor

Automotive, Aviation, & MaritimeBachelor's Degree

Job Description

Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people. Includes rail transportation inspectors, such as freight inspectors, rail inspectors, and other inspectors of transportation vehicles not elsewhere classified.

Transportation SafetyVehicle InspectionRegulatory ComplianceQuality AssuranceLogisticsSupply ChainEngineeringAutomotive

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Adobe Acrobat Google Android Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word

In-demand software

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Word

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Projected growth

+2.2%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

2,300

per year (US)

Jobs today

25,100

in 2025 → 25,600 (2035)

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook.

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

High

Working in a team

Moderate

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

High

Time pressure

High

Time spent sitting

Moderate

Working outdoors

High

Indoor, climate-controlled

Moderate

Dealing with customers

High

Level of competition

Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Stable Job Market

This field maintains steady employment levels with consistent demand. Job opportunities remain available with moderate competition.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Logistics Coordinator
Safety Technician
Quality Control Assistant

Transportation Inspector

Where it can lead

Transportation Safety Manager
Regulatory Compliance Officer
Lead Transportation Inspector

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will increasingly assist Transportation Inspectors by automating routine data collection, enhancing predictive maintenance for vehicles, and analyzing vast datasets to identify safety risks or compliance issues more efficiently. While AI tools will streamline many tasks, human oversight will remain crucial for complex judgments, on-site inspections, and enforcing regulations, shifting the inspector's role towards advanced analysis and decision-making.

Salary

$92,100

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position