Transportation Inspector salary
From 20 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 53-6051: Transportation Inspectors
At a glance
- Median down 11% since FY2023. From $84,105 in FY2023 to $74,932 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Transportation Inspector H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 20 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Transportation Inspector jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 53-6051, Transportation Inspectors). The median base salary is $74,867, 39% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $62,645 and $85,634.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 0% of filings
Mid-level · 100% of filings
Senior · 0% of filings
Expert · 0% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | – | 0 |
| Level II · Qualified | $74,048 | 11 |
| Level III · Experienced | – | 0 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
What a Transportation Inspector does
Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people. Includes rail transportation inspectors, such as freight inspectors, rail inspectors, and other inspectors of transportation vehicles not elsewhere classified.
Typical tasks
- Prepare and submit reports after completion of freight shipments.
- Inspect shipments to ensure that freight is securely braced and blocked.
- Record details about freight conditions, handling of freight, and any problems encountered.
- Advise crews in techniques of stowing dangerous and heavy cargo.
- Observe loading of freight to ensure that crews comply with procedures.
- Recommend remedial procedures to correct any violations found during inspections.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Transportation Inspectors (53-6051.00). This section 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.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Transportation Inspectors), the median annual wage was $92,100 in May 2025, with 24,500 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $74,867, 19% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $54,642 | $40,330 |
| 25th percentile | $62,645 | $58,780 |
| Median | $74,867 | $92,100 |
| 75th percentile | $85,634 | $108,890 |
| 90th percentile | $93,582 | $138,670 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $54,642 |
| 25th | $62,645 |
| 50th (median) | $74,867 |
| 75th | $85,634 |
| 90th | $93,582 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2023 | $84,105 | $77,596 | $101,314 | 10 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2025 | $74,524 | $62,956 | $81,884 | 10 |
| FY2026 | $74,932 | $63,622 | $90,150 | 10 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Transportation Inspector make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Transportation Inspector jobs is $74,867 (20 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $62,645 and $85,634.
Do H-1B Transportation Inspectors earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($74,867) is 19% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($92,100, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.