# Transportation Inspectors

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-inspectors
- SOC code: 53-6051.00
- 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

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 78 |
| Investigative (I) | 32 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 9 |
| Enterprising (E) | 27 |
| Conventional (C) | 86 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 94/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 83/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 80/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 78/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 78/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 76/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 76/100)
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (importance 74/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Active Listening, Monitoring, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination

## Knowledge

Transportation, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, Law and Government, Mechanical, Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics

## Also called

Admeasurer, Bridge Inspector, Cargo Inspector, Cargo Surveyor, Container Inspector, Damaged Freight Inspector, Equipment Inspector, Freight Car Inspector, Freight Inspector, Freight Service 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
- [Aviation Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aviation-inspectors): $92,100 median pay
- [Construction and Building Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/construction-and-building-inspectors): $74,690 median pay
- [Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aircraft-cargo-handling-supervisors): $58,170 median pay
- [Ship Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ship-engineers): $109,530 median pay
- [Cargo and Freight Agents](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cargo-and-freight-agents): $52,260 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.