SOC 53-6051.01

    Aviation Inspectors

    Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with Federal safety regulations.

    Median pay
    $92,100
    Growth
    +2.2%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    2,300
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Transportation inspectors"

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    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $40,330
    Median
    $92,100
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $138,670
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    24,500 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Aviation inspectors examine aircraft, maintenance processes, and navigation systems to ensure they meet federal safety standards. The position offers a median annual pay of $92,100, with earnings ranging from under $40,330 to over $138,670.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What aviation inspectors do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with Federal safety regulations.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    Aviation inspectors focus on public safety and security by evaluating aircraft, air traffic controls, and communication systems to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Day-to-day tasks involve inspecting physical equipment, documenting their findings, and interpreting complex safety standards for others. These professionals must monitor processes, solve problems, and make critical decisions regarding airworthiness.

    Succeeding in this role requires strong skills in critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, and quality control analysis. Inspectors must possess a solid understanding of mechanics, transportation systems, and engineering technology. Because the job involves public safety, key work styles include high attention to detail, cautiousness, dependability, and integrity. This career strongly appeals to individuals with conventional interests who enjoy structured, detail-oriented tasks.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a high school diploma, though the career is classified as requiring medium preparation. Many individuals prepare by completing vocational training, earning an associate degree, or gaining related work experience. There are no specific college majors directly linked to this career in the standard classification system.

    Prospective inspectors often build their foundational knowledge through prior experience in related roles. These include aircraft mechanics and service technicians, avionics technicians, or aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians. Developing a strong background in mechanical systems, mathematics, and administration is highly beneficial for those looking to transition into this specialized inspection role.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for aviation inspectors is $92,100, though this figure represents the broader category of transportation inspectors. Within this group, the lowest 10% of earners make less than $40,330, while the highest 10% earn more than $138,670.

    There are 24,500 people employed in this field. Employment is projected to grow by 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. About 2,300 job openings are expected to become available each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    76 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    52 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    7 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    26 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    79 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code CRI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    99
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    98
    Documenting/Recording Information
    92
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    90
    Working with Computers
    88
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    88
    Getting Information
    87
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    82
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    78
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    78
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Active Listening
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Quality Control Analysis
    • Writing
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Monitoring
    • Judgment and Decision Making

    Knowledge

    • English Language
    • Mechanical
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Transportation
    • Education and Training
    • Production and Processing
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mathematics
    • Administration and Management

    Abilities

    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Speech Clarity
    • Written Expression
    • Information Ordering

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Cautiousness
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Self-Control
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    Aeronautical Inspector · Aerospace Inspector · Air Carrier Inspector · Aircraft Inspector · Aircraft Landing Gear Inspector · Aircraft Maintenance Inspector · Aircraft Quality Control Inspector (Aircraft QC Inspector) · Aircraft Systems Inspector · Airplane Inspector · Airworthiness Inspector

    Your plan

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    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Questions about aviation inspectors

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for aviation inspectors?

    People in this profession are also called airworthiness inspectors, aircraft quality control inspectors, and aeronautical inspectors. Other common titles include aircraft maintenance inspectors, airplane inspectors, and aerospace inspectors.

    What is the job outlook and employment size for this career?

    There are currently 24,500 people employed in this field. Opportunities are expected to grow by 2.2% between 2025 and 2035, resulting in approximately 2,300 projected job openings each year.

    What kind of education or training is typically required?

    A high school diploma is the typical entry-level education needed to enter the field. However, most workers also have vocational training, an associate degree, or significant related work experience.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.