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Skilled Trades

Aviation Inspectors

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

Median salary

$85,750

Typical range

$40k – $137k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Aviation Inspectors

    Entry / Junior

    $40,090

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Aviation Inspectors

    Established

    $85,750

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Aviation Inspectors

    Senior

    $111,435

Key skills

A typical day

  • 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.

Fields of study

Any field

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