Median Salary
$92,100
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$44.28
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$138,670
entry level starts ~$40,330
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 25,000 employed
How much does a Transportation Inspector make?
Transportation Inspectors in the United States bring home a median salary of $92,100 a year, or around $44.28 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $40,330, while the top 10% earn $138,670.
That is $30,710 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Transportation Inspector salary range by percentile
Half of all Transportation Inspectors earn between $58,780 and $108,890 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,330 | $19.39 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $58,780 | $28.26 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $92,100 | $44.28 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $108,890 | $52.35 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,670 | $66.67 |
|
Highest-paying states for Transportation Inspector
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Transportation Inspector pay at $123,120 a year, followed by Iowa ($116,850) and Oklahoma ($111,070). At the other end, Michigan posts the lowest median at $35,890 — a gap of $87,230 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $123,120 | $59.19 | +34% |
| 2 | Iowa | $116,850 | $56.18 | +27% |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $111,070 | $53.40 | +21% |
| 4 | Hawaii | $108,270 | $52.05 | +18% |
| 5 | Alabama | $108,140 | $51.99 | +17% |
Transportation Inspector salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 44 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Alaska $123,120Iowa $116,850Oklahoma $111,070Hawaii $108,270Alabama $108,140North Dakota $106,330Washington $104,250Kansas $103,380Florida $101,470Texas $101,440Maryland $100,700Georgia $95,030New York $93,420Minnesota $92,860Connecticut $91,520District of Columbia $89,960Arkansas $85,130North Carolina $84,470Kentucky $83,970California $83,000Colorado $81,820Pennsylvania $81,550South Carolina $80,490Indiana $80,330Massachusetts $79,650Tennessee $78,430Oregon $78,110Louisiana $77,460Ohio $77,010Wisconsin $75,260South Dakota $70,080Virginia $68,610Missouri $64,690Utah $64,480Maine $63,750New Mexico $63,690Montana $62,810Arizona $62,250West Virginia $58,670Idaho $54,330Nevada $50,060New Jersey $49,250Illinois $47,990Michigan $35,890
Workforce and education
About 25,000 people work as Transportation Inspectors in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $88,540 — below the median, unusual for salaried roles. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Transportation Inspector make in the United States?
The median Transportation Inspector salary in the United States is $92,100 per year, or about $44.28 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $40,330, while the top 10% of earners make $138,670 or more.
How does Transportation Inspector pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Transportation Inspector median of $92,100 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Transportation Inspectors the most?
Alaska is the highest-paying state for Transportation Inspectors, with a median salary of $123,120 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Transportation Inspector?
Becoming a Transportation Inspector typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Transportation Inspectors work in the United States?
About 25,000 people were employed as Transportation Inspectors in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.