How to become a Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspector, Except Aviation
Official title: Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
Also called: Car Inspector, Carman, Emissions Inspector, Inspector, Motor Carrier Inspector, Quality Assurance Inspector, Railroad Track Inspector, Safety Inspector, Smog Technician, Transit Vehicle Inspector
Inspect and monitor transportation equipment, vehicles, or systems to ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.
Main tasks
- Inspect repairs to transportation vehicles or equipment to ensure that repair work was performed properly.
- Inspect vehicles or equipment to ensure compliance with rules, standards, or regulations.
- Investigate complaints regarding safety violations.
- Inspect vehicles or other equipment for evidence of abuse, damage, or mechanical malfunction.
- Issue notices and recommend corrective actions when infractions or problems are found.
How to become one
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Inspector, Motor Vehicles.
- Apprenticeship: Railroad Safety Inspector.
- Licence: A licence is required in 5 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $92,100 a year The middle half earn $58,780 to $108,890.
- About 25,100 people work in this job now, and about 25,600 are projected by 2035. (+2.2%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Related jobs
- Transportation Inspectors
- Aviation Inspectors
- Bridge and Lock Tenders
- Parking Attendants
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
- Aircraft Service Attendants
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspector, Except Aviation?
Ways in include: Inspector, Motor Vehicles.
How much does a Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspector, Except Aviation earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $92,100 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $58,780 to $108,890.
Is a Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspector, Except Aviation a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 25,100 to about 25,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspector, Except Aviation?
Usually not. Only 21% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Inspector, Motor Vehicles.
Will AI change the work of a Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspector, Except Aviation?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.