Transportation Inspectors Career, Salary and Skills
Transportation Inspectors have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $92,100 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 24,500. Wage data is published for 126 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
53-6051.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Not recorded
National salary and employment
Median annual
$92,100
Hourly median
$44.28
Employment
24,500
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | 3.62 | 3.50 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.62 | 3.50 |
| Speaking | 3.62 | 3.50 |
| Active Listening | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Time Management | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Prepare and submit reports after completion of freight shipments.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Email software
- Google Android
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Web browser software
Transportation Inspectors salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in New York, NYMedian $93,420 · Employment 4,000
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in NYMedian $93,420 · Employment 3,720
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in TXMedian $101,440 · Employment 2,290
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in CAMedian $83,000 · Employment 1,790
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in FLMedian $101,470 · Employment 1,630
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in ILMedian $47,990 · Employment 1,130
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in NJMedian $49,250 · Employment 930
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $126,010 · Employment 890
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in GAMedian $95,030 · Employment 880
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in AZMedian $62,250 · Employment 830
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in Miami, FLMedian $100,100 · Employment 820
- Transportation Inspectors Salary in Phoenix, AZMedian $51,990 · Employment 690
Related careers
- Government Property Inspectors and InvestigatorsNational median $80,730
- Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsNational median $90,150
- Marine Engineers and Naval ArchitectsNational median $112,230
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksNational median $45,260
- First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, HandNational median not published
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship LoadersNational median $58,870
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersNational median $107,230
- Freight ForwardersNational median $52,260
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.