Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Illinois
$72,000 / year
≈ $6,000 per month · $34.62 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Illinois · median $49,500
25th percentile
$41,500Average
$72,00075th percentile
$97,000
$41,500Average
$72,00075th percentile
$97,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Aviation Inspector salary by state
Alabama$104,000
Alaska$126,500
Arizona$76,000
Arkansas$83,500
California$91,500
Colorado$93,000
Connecticut$99,500
District of Columbia$110,000
Florida$104,500
Georgia$95,500
Hawaii$108,000
Idaho$88,000
Illinois$72,000
Indiana$86,500
Iowa$117,500
Kansas$90,500
Kentucky$88,500
Louisiana$84,000
Maine$87,000
Maryland$106,500
Massachusetts$80,000
Michigan$67,500
Minnesota$93,000
Missouri$84,000
Montana$78,500
Nevada$73,000
New Jersey$67,500
New Mexico$72,000
New York$94,500
North Carolina$91,000
North Dakota$107,500
Ohio$92,000
Oklahoma$117,000
Oregon$93,500
Pennsylvania$100,500
South Carolina$87,000
South Dakota$79,500
Tennessee$81,000
Texas$104,500
Utah$81,000
Virginia$86,500
Washington$118,500
West Virginia$76,500
Wisconsin$92,000
About this role
Aviation Inspector is a professional role within the function in the Transportation and Material Moving job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Aviation Inspectors do
Typical education: High School Diploma
- 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.
Top skills: Critical Thinking Speaking Reading Comprehension Active Listening Quality Control Analysis Operations Monitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Aviation Inspector pay by experience level
Entry level$41,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$61,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$95,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$112,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$143,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,500
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Aviation Inspector salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
11,220 workers
$104,500Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
4,490 workers
$136,000Support Activities for Transportation
3,960 workers
$76,000Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,700 workers
$91,000State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,020 workers
$73,500Support Activities for Air Transportation
2,560 workers
$81,500Repair and Maintenance
1,950 workers
$44,500Automotive Repair and Maintenance
1,950 workers
$44,500Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
1,870 workers
$102,000Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
1,790 workers
$103,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Aviation Inspector pays 33% above the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).
Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving
Transportation Inspector$91,500
Locomotive Engineer$89,000
Flight Attendant$80,000
Crane and Tower Operators$74,500
Wellhead Pumper$73,000
Careers related to Aviation Inspector
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Aviation Inspector make?
The average base salary for a Aviation Inspector in the United States is $91,500 per year, or about $43.99 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $61,000 and $112,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Transportation and Material Moving roles?
The Transportation and Material Moving job family averages $69,000 across 53 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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