Aviation Inspectors Salary in Chicago, IL

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Aviation Inspectors in Chicago, IL have a median annual salary of $55,070, with 570 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $36,500 at the 10th percentile to $137,050 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$55,070

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$26.48

Employment

570

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$36,500
10th
$39,920
25th
$55,070
Median
$105,660
75th
$137,050
90th

Local compared with national

Chicago, IL

$55,070

Median annual · 2025

United States

$92,100

Median annual · 2025

The Chicago, IL median is 40.2% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $37,030).

Top skills

  1. 1.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.0
  2. 2.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.9
  3. 3.Active ListeningImportance 3.9
  4. 4.SpeakingImportance 3.9
  5. 5.Operations MonitoringImportance 3.8
  6. 6.Quality Control AnalysisImportance 3.8
  7. 7.WritingImportance 3.6
  8. 8.MonitoringImportance 3.4
  9. 9.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.4
  10. 10.TroubleshootingImportance 3.3
  11. 11.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.3
  12. 12.Time ManagementImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
Over 10 years
Job zone
3

Technology used

  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Aircraft regulation databases
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • IBM WebSphere MQ
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Robotic workstation software
  • SAP software
  • SAS

Common tasks

  • Examine aircraft access plates and doors for security.
  • Investigate air accidents and complaints to determine causes.
  • Recommend changes in rules, policies, standards, and regulations, based on knowledge of operating conditions, aircraft improvements, and other factors.
  • Inspect work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, modification, or repair and overhaul of aircraft and aircraft mechanical systems to ensure adherence to standards and procedures.
  • Examine maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals.
  • Inspect new, repaired, or modified aircraft to identify damage or defects and to assess airworthiness and conformance to standards, using checklists, hand tools, and test instruments.
  • Approve or deny issuance of certificates of airworthiness.
  • Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports.
  • Examine landing gear, tires, and exteriors of fuselage, wings, and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion and the need for repairs.
  • Recommend replacement, repair, or modification of aircraft equipment.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Aviation Inspectors salary in other locations

Other occupations in Chicago, IL