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Aviation Inspectors

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure

What they do

Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with Federal safety regulations.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $92,100 Median per year · $44.28/hr Most earn $40,330–$138,670

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Examine landing gear, tires, and exteriors of fuselage, wings, and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion and the need for repairs.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Conduct flight test programs to test equipment, instruments, and systems under a variety of conditions, using both manual and automatic controls.
  • Start aircraft and observe gauges, meters, and other instruments to detect evidence of malfunctions.
  • Investigate air accidents and complaints to determine causes.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 2,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service19.2%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals15.1%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals13.0%
  • Support activities for air transportation10.1%
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing7.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Aviation Inspector is not usually an entry-level job. Most people first work in aviation maintenance for several years, earn a certificate or complete an apprenticeship, and then move into inspection. Overall, expect about 4 to 6 years of related work before you are ready for this role.

  1. Aviation maintenance certificate or apprenticeship

    1-2 years

    Learn how aircraft systems, engines, and airframes work and how to maintain them to federal standards. This training gives you the hands-on skills employers look for in a mechanic.

  2. Aircraft Mechanic

    2-4 years

    Work on aircraft inspections, repairs, and maintenance records under supervision. You learn to read regulations and documentation closely, which is exactly what inspectors do every day.

  3. Aviation Inspector

    Career role

    Check aircraft, maintenance procedures, navigation aids, and communications equipment to make sure they meet Federal safety regulations.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Aviation Inspector

    3-5 years of experience first

    Take on more complex inspections, train newer inspectors, and help guide inspection work for a team or area.

  2. Aviation Safety Supervisor

    5+ years of experience first

    Manage a group of inspectors, set schedules and priorities, and handle larger safety concerns. This role usually requires strong leadership and communication skills along with deep technical knowledge.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physicsStrong math and physics skills support the technical training you will need for aircraft maintenance and inspection.
  • Take shop, auto, or electronics classesHands-on mechanical and electrical experience prepares you for aviation maintenance training.
  • Join an aviation, robotics, or STEM clubTeamwork and building projects show you can work carefully with technical systems and follow safety procedures.
  • Look for a summer or weekend job at an airport or repair shopEven sweeping hangars or helping with simple tasks shows you what aviation work is like and builds professional habits.
  • Talk with an aviation professionalAsk a mechanic or inspector about their training and daily work so you can plan your next steps with real information.

In college

  • Enroll in an aviation maintenance programA certificate program in aviation maintenance teaches the core skills and knowledge that lead to aircraft mechanic work.
  • Take math, physics, and technical writing coursesThese classes build the problem-solving and documentation skills that inspectors use every day.
  • Pursue an internship or co-op at an aviation companyReal work experience with maintenance teams helps you learn inspection standards and makes you a stronger job candidate.
  • Work a part-time job in aircraft maintenance or ground operationsSteady work around aircraft builds the experience you will need to move toward inspection roles.
  • Learn the rules that apply to aviation safetyReading Federal aviation regulations and safety guidance early helps you understand what inspectors check and why.

Tips for getting started

  • Get comfortable with reading manuals, regulations, and written reports now. Inspectors spend a lot of time documenting what they find, so strong writing helps.
  • Look for part-time or summer work at an airport, flight school, or aircraft repair shop. Hands-on experience around real aircraft makes certificate programs and job applications much easier.
  • Ask a local aviation mechanic or inspector if you can talk with them about their work. Their advice on training paths is often more useful than a general guide.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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