# Aviation Inspectors

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aviation-inspectors
- SOC code: 53-6051.01
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $92,100 (10th percentile $40,330, 90th percentile $138,670)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.2%
- Openings a year: 2,300
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Transportation inspectors".

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 76 |
| Investigative (I) | 52 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 7 |
| Enterprising (E) | 26 |
| Conventional (C) | 79 |

## What you'd do

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

## 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

## 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

## Related careers

- [Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-vehicle-equipment-and-systems-inspectors-except-aviation): $92,100 median pay
- [Transportation Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-inspectors): $92,100 median pay
- [Construction and Building Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/construction-and-building-inspectors): $74,690 median pay
- [Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aerospace-engineering-and-operations-technologists-and-technicians): $82,890 median pay
- [Avionics Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/avionics-technicians): $82,280 median pay
- [Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aircraft-mechanics-and-service-technicians): $79,870 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.