Transportation Inspectors
Transportation Inspectors (SOC 53-6051) earn a median $92,100 a year ($44.28 an hour) in the United States, with 24,500 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What transportation inspectors do
Transportation inspectors examine vehicles, equipment, and goods to confirm they can be moved safely and meet regulations. The code includes rail transportation inspectors, such as freight inspectors and rail inspectors, along with other inspectors of transportation vehicles not classified elsewhere. A cargo inspector checks that freight is properly braced and blocked, watches loading to make sure crews follow procedure, advises on stowing dangerous or heavy cargo, and records the condition of freight and any problems with handling. They also inspect loaded cargo, cargo lashed to decks or held in storage, and cargo handling devices for compliance with health and safety regulations and for signs they need maintenance, and they notify workers when a shipment needs special treatment. After a shipment is complete the inspector writes and submits a report and recommends fixes for violations found. Transportation security screeners, who check passengers and bags at checkpoints, are classified separately in protective service.
Also called: Admeasurer, Bridge Inspector, Cargo Inspector, Cargo Surveyor, Container Inspector.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.39 | $28.26 | $44.28 | $52.35 | $66.67 | $42.57 | 24,500 |
| Annual | $40,330 | $58,780 | $92,100 | $108,890 | $138,670 | $88,540 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where transportation inspectors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $39.20 | $48.17 | $59.19 | $70.65 | $78.97 | $58.66 | 170 | 0.52 | 3.28 |
| Annual | $81,540 | $100,190 | $123,120 | $146,950 | $164,260 | $122,000 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $26.08 | $42.95 | $56.18 | $72.42 | $76.79 | $54.63 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.26 |
| Annual | $54,250 | $89,340 | $116,850 | $150,630 | $159,730 | $113,620 | ||||
| Oklahoma | Hourly | $51.62 | $52.88 | $53.40 | $53.40 | $67.23 | $54.46 | 470 | 0.27 | 1.73 |
| Annual | $107,370 | $109,990 | $111,070 | $111,070 | $139,840 | $113,280 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $24.98 | $31.72 | $52.05 | $66.67 | $72.92 | $50.21 | 150 | 0.24 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $51,960 | $65,980 | $108,270 | $138,670 | $151,670 | $104,440 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $33.24 | $48.77 | $51.99 | $51.99 | $54.10 | $48.42 | 670 | 0.32 | 2.01 |
| Annual | $69,150 | $101,440 | $108,140 | $108,140 | $112,530 | $100,700 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $32.03 | $44.91 | $44.91 | $44.91 | $47.04 | $43.86 | 3,720 | 0.38 | 2.44 |
| Annual | $66,620 | $93,420 | $93,420 | $93,420 | $97,840 | $91,220 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.68 | $35.82 | $48.77 | $62.29 | $71.84 | $48.63 | 2,290 | 0.16 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $43,020 | $74,500 | $101,440 | $129,570 | $149,430 | $101,160 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $19.61 | $26.76 | $39.90 | $55.22 | $69.45 | $42.55 | 1,790 | 0.10 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $40,790 | $55,660 | $83,000 | $114,850 | $144,460 | $88,500 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $26.11 | $32.60 | $48.78 | $64.71 | $68.01 | $48.48 | 1,630 | 0.16 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $54,300 | $67,800 | $101,470 | $134,600 | $141,460 | $100,840 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.55 | $19.19 | $23.07 | $45.17 | $62.31 | $33.55 | 1,130 | 0.19 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $36,500 | $39,920 | $47,990 | $93,950 | $129,600 | $69,780 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $38.75 | $55.23 | $67.73 | $67.73 | $76.15 | $61.48 | 180 | 0.09 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $80,600 | $114,880 | $140,880 | $140,880 | $158,390 | $127,870 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $45.83 | $49.14 | $63.01 | $72.56 | $81.23 | $61.68 | 110 | 0.64 | 4.03 |
| Annual | $95,320 | $102,220 | $131,060 | $150,920 | $168,960 | $128,300 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $33.79 | $45.75 | $62.25 | $72.13 | $82.90 | $59.01 | 270 | 0.13 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $70,270 | $95,160 | $129,480 | $150,030 | $172,420 | $122,750 | ||||
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Hourly | $31.29 | $50.66 | $60.92 | $65.82 | $67.85 | $56.81 | 290 | 0.21 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $65,090 | $105,370 | $126,710 | $136,900 | $141,130 | $118,170 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $25.50 | $43.79 | $60.58 | $66.01 | $75.93 | $54.38 | 890 | 0.22 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $53,040 | $91,080 | $126,010 | $137,300 | $157,930 | $113,100 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $25.21 | $42.26 | $44.91 | $44.91 | $47.04 | $42.15 | 4,000 | 0.42 | 2.67 |
| Annual | $52,440 | $87,890 | $93,420 | $93,420 | $97,840 | $87,670 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $25.50 | $43.79 | $60.58 | $66.01 | $75.93 | $54.38 | 890 | 0.22 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $53,040 | $91,080 | $126,010 | $137,300 | $157,930 | $113,100 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $25.31 | $32.36 | $48.13 | $66.82 | $70.14 | $48.79 | 820 | 0.29 | 1.84 |
| Annual | $52,640 | $67,310 | $100,100 | $138,990 | $145,890 | $101,480 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $16.73 | $17.50 | $25.00 | $52.99 | $65.36 | $35.40 | 690 | 0.29 | 1.85 |
| Annual | $34,800 | $36,400 | $51,990 | $110,220 | $135,950 | $73,630 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $17.55 | $19.19 | $26.48 | $50.80 | $65.89 | $35.50 | 570 | 0.13 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $36,500 | $39,920 | $55,070 | $105,660 | $137,050 | $73,830 | ||||
Top industries employing transportation inspectors
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 18.3% of transportation inspectors nationally (4,490 jobs) at a median $131,730 a year ($63.33 an hour), followed by Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (15.1%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (12.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 4,490 | 18.3% | $131,730 | $63.33 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 3,700 | 15.1% | $93,420 | $44.91 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 3,020 | 12.3% | $68,100 | $32.74 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation NAICS 488100 | 2,560 | 10.4% | $79,620 | $38.28 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811100 | 1,950 | 8.0% | $40,810 | $19.62 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (24,500). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $79,770 for transportation inspectors in May 2021 and $92,100 in May 2025, with employment of 25,070 and 24,500.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $79,770 | $38.35 | 25,070 |
| May 2022 | $79,570 | $38.26 | 24,420 |
| May 2023 | $87,290 | $41.96 | 27,670 |
| May 2024 | $85,750 | $41.23 | 23,320 |
| May 2025 | $92,100 | $44.28 | 24,500 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
46 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $59.19 | $123,120 | $81,540 | $164,260 | 170 | 0.52 | 3.28 |
| 2 | Iowa profile | $56.18 | $116,850 | $54,250 | $159,730 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.26 |
| 3 | Oklahoma profile | $53.40 | $111,070 | $107,370 | $139,840 | 470 | 0.27 | 1.73 |
| 4 | Hawaii profile | $52.05 | $108,270 | $51,960 | $151,670 | 150 | 0.24 | 1.51 |
| 5 | Alabama profile | $51.99 | $108,140 | $69,150 | $112,530 | 670 | 0.32 | 2.01 |
| 6 | North Dakota profile | $51.12 | $106,330 | $68,500 | $136,990 | 60 | 0.14 | 0.90 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $50.12 | $104,250 | $70,270 | $167,420 | 490 | 0.14 | 0.87 |
| 8 | Kansas profile | $49.70 | $103,380 | $39,850 | $132,830 | 210 | 0.15 | 0.92 |
| 9 | Florida profile | $48.78 | $101,470 | $54,300 | $141,460 | 1,630 | 0.16 | 1.04 |
| 10 | Texas profile | $48.77 | $101,440 | $43,020 | $149,430 | 2,290 | 0.16 | 1.03 |
| 11 | Maryland profile | $48.41 | $100,700 | $55,930 | $150,030 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.58 |
| 12 | Georgia profile | $45.69 | $95,030 | $40,460 | $141,150 | 880 | 0.18 | 1.15 |
| 13 | New York profile | $44.91 | $93,420 | $66,620 | $97,840 | 3,720 | 0.38 | 2.44 |
| 14 | Minnesota profile | $44.65 | $92,860 | $35,050 | $151,850 | 310 | 0.11 | 0.67 |
| 15 | Connecticut profile | $44.00 | $91,520 | $66,910 | $126,820 | 330 | 0.19 | 1.22 |
| 16 | District of Columbia profile | $43.25 | $89,960 | $56,820 | $185,220 | 150 | 0.21 | 1.35 |
| 17 | Arkansas profile | $40.93 | $85,130 | $35,460 | $119,180 | 120 | 0.09 | 0.56 |
| 18 | North Carolina profile | $40.61 | $84,470 | $35,220 | $136,970 | 380 | 0.08 | 0.48 |
| 19 | Kentucky profile | $40.37 | $83,970 | $42,130 | $136,990 | 260 | 0.13 | 0.82 |
| 20 | California profile | $39.90 | $83,000 | $40,790 | $144,460 | 1,790 | 0.10 | 0.62 |
| 21 | Colorado profile | $39.34 | $81,820 | $37,470 | $148,820 | 460 | 0.16 | 1.01 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania profile | $39.21 | $81,550 | $55,030 | $161,470 | 340 | 0.06 | 0.35 |
| 23 | South Carolina profile | $38.70 | $80,490 | $67,920 | $100,420 | 440 | 0.19 | 1.22 |
| 24 | Indiana profile | $38.62 | $80,330 | $36,430 | $134,720 | 250 | 0.08 | 0.49 |
| 25 | Massachusetts profile | $38.29 | $79,650 | $39,010 | $113,760 | ** | ** | ** |
| 26 | Tennessee profile | $37.71 | $78,430 | $40,410 | $135,220 | 420 | 0.13 | 0.82 |
| 27 | Oregon profile | $37.55 | $78,110 | $48,840 | $140,030 | 250 | 0.13 | 0.80 |
| 28 | Louisiana profile | $37.24 | $77,460 | $29,160 | $136,990 | 130 | 0.07 | 0.42 |
| 29 | Ohio profile | $37.02 | $77,010 | $37,700 | $143,040 | 430 | 0.08 | 0.50 |
| 30 | Wisconsin profile | $36.18 | $75,260 | $69,050 | $134,670 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.26 |
| 31 | South Dakota profile | $33.69 | $70,080 | $47,340 | $141,130 | 100 | 0.22 | 1.37 |
| 32 | Virginia profile | $32.99 | $68,610 | $47,540 | $142,480 | 330 | 0.08 | 0.50 |
| 33 | Missouri profile | $31.10 | $64,690 | $44,370 | $136,970 | 380 | 0.13 | 0.83 |
| 34 | Utah profile | $31.00 | $64,480 | $41,970 | $140,470 | 210 | 0.12 | 0.78 |
| 35 | Maine profile | $30.65 | $63,750 | $42,420 | $159,830 | 90 | 0.15 | 0.92 |
| 36 | New Mexico profile | $30.62 | $63,690 | $33,360 | $113,460 | 230 | 0.27 | 1.69 |
| 37 | Montana profile | $30.20 | $62,810 | $37,860 | $124,850 | 180 | 0.36 | 2.29 |
| 38 | Arizona profile | $29.93 | $62,250 | $34,800 | $132,270 | 830 | 0.26 | 1.63 |
| 39 | West Virginia profile | $28.21 | $58,670 | $44,490 | $128,670 | 90 | 0.12 | 0.77 |
| 40 | Idaho profile | $26.12 | $54,330 | $39,800 | $156,640 | 170 | 0.20 | 1.25 |
| 41 | Nevada profile | $24.07 | $50,060 | $44,670 | $119,100 | 430 | 0.28 | 1.75 |
| 42 | New Jersey profile | $23.68 | $49,250 | $37,010 | $105,680 | 930 | 0.22 | 1.37 |
| 43 | Illinois profile | $23.07 | $47,990 | $36,500 | $129,600 | 1,130 | 0.19 | 1.18 |
| 44 | Michigan profile | $17.25 | $35,890 | $33,440 | $139,390 | 540 | 0.12 | 0.78 |
| – | Delaware profile | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.19 | 1.23 |
| – | Nebraska profile | * | * | * | * | 200 | 0.20 | 1.25 |
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-6051 Transportation Inspectors.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-6051, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-6051.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.