Transportation inspectors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $92,100 | $44.28 |
| Mean (average) | $88,540 | $42.57 |
| 90th percentile | $138,670 | $66.67 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Transportation inspectors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $108,140 | $69,150 | $112,530 | 670 | 2.01 |
| Alaska | $123,120 | $81,540 | $164,260 | 170 | 3.28 |
| Arizona | $62,250 | $34,800 | $132,270 | 830 | 1.63 |
| Arkansas | $85,130 | $35,460 | $119,180 | 120 | 0.56 |
| California | $83,000 | $40,790 | $144,460 | 1,790 | 0.62 |
| Colorado | $81,820 | $37,470 | $148,820 | 460 | 1.01 |
| Connecticut | $91,520 | $66,910 | $126,820 | 330 | 1.22 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 90 | 1.23 | ||
| District of Columbia | $89,960 | $56,820 | $185,220 | 150 | 1.35 |
| Florida | $101,470 | $54,300 | $141,460 | 1,630 | 1.04 |
| Georgia | $95,030 | $40,460 | $141,150 | 880 | 1.15 |
| Guam | $52,540 | $36,360 | $76,450 | 70 | 6.47 |
| Hawaii | $108,270 | $51,960 | $151,670 | 150 | 1.51 |
| Idaho | $54,330 | $39,800 | $156,640 | 170 | 1.25 |
| Illinois | $47,990 | $36,500 | $129,600 | 1,130 | 1.18 |
| Indiana | $80,330 | $36,430 | $134,720 | 250 | 0.49 |
| Iowa | $116,850 | $54,250 | $159,730 | 60 | 0.26 |
| Kansas | $103,380 | $39,850 | $132,830 | 210 | 0.92 |
| Kentucky | $83,970 | $42,130 | $136,990 | 260 | 0.82 |
| Louisiana | $77,460 | $29,160 | $136,990 | 130 | 0.42 |
| Maine | $63,750 | $42,420 | $159,830 | 90 | 0.92 |
| Maryland | $100,700 | $55,930 | $150,030 | 250 | 0.58 |
| Massachusetts | $79,650 | $39,010 | $113,760 | ||
| Michigan | $35,890 | $33,440 | $139,390 | 540 | 0.78 |
| Minnesota | $92,860 | $35,050 | $151,850 | 310 | 0.67 |
| Missouri | $64,690 | $44,370 | $136,970 | 380 | 0.83 |
| Montana | $62,810 | $37,860 | $124,850 | 180 | 2.29 |
| Nebraska | Data unavailable | 200 | 1.25 | ||
| Nevada | $50,060 | $44,670 | $119,100 | 430 | 1.75 |
| New Jersey | $49,250 | $37,010 | $105,680 | 930 | 1.37 |
| New Mexico | $63,690 | $33,360 | $113,460 | 230 | 1.69 |
| New York | $93,420 | $66,620 | $97,840 | 3,720 | 2.44 |
| North Carolina | $84,470 | $35,220 | $136,970 | 380 | 0.48 |
| North Dakota | $106,330 | $68,500 | $136,990 | 60 | 0.9 |
| Ohio | $77,010 | $37,700 | $143,040 | 430 | 0.5 |
| Oklahoma | $111,070 | $107,370 | $139,840 | 470 | 1.73 |
| Oregon | $78,110 | $48,840 | $140,030 | 250 | 0.8 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,550 | $55,030 | $161,470 | 340 | 0.35 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,760 | $26,250 | $59,750 | 250 | 1.71 |
| South Carolina | $80,490 | $67,920 | $100,420 | 440 | 1.22 |
| South Dakota | $70,080 | $47,340 | $141,130 | 100 | 1.37 |
| Tennessee | $78,430 | $40,410 | $135,220 | 420 | 0.82 |
| Texas | $101,440 | $43,020 | $149,430 | 2,290 | 1.03 |
| Utah | $64,480 | $41,970 | $140,470 | 210 | 0.78 |
| Virginia | $68,610 | $47,540 | $142,480 | 330 | 0.5 |
| Washington | $104,250 | $70,270 | $167,420 | 490 | 0.87 |
| West Virginia | $58,670 | $44,490 | $128,670 | 90 | 0.77 |
| Wisconsin | $75,260 | $69,050 | $134,670 | 120 | 0.26 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for transportation inspectors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.2%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for transportation inspectors
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare and submit reports after completion of freight shipments.
- Inspect shipments to ensure that freight is securely braced and blocked.
- Record details about freight conditions, handling of freight, and any problems encountered.
- Advise crews in techniques of stowing dangerous and heavy cargo.
- Observe loading of freight to ensure that crews comply with procedures.
- Recommend remedial procedures to correct any violations found during inspections.
- Inspect loaded cargo, cargo lashed to decks or in storage facilities, and cargo handling devices to determine compliance with health and safety regulations and need for maintenance.
- Notify workers of any special treatment required for shipments.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Google Android (hot technology)
- Email software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Evaluation.
Common job titles: Cargo Surveyor, Inspector, Marine Cargo Surveyor, Marine Surveyor, Petroleum Inspector.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do transportation inspectors make?
The national median annual wage for transportation inspectors was $92,100 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,330 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $138,670. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do transportation inspectors need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is transportation inspectors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of transportation inspectors to change +2.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay transportation inspectors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($123,120), Iowa ($116,850), Oklahoma ($111,070). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.