Jobs Similar to Aviation Inspectors
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to aviation inspectors, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians, Non-Destructive Testing Specialists and Gas Plant Operators.
Aviation Inspectors: $92,100 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
78% similar · $82,890 · Training or associate
- 2Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
78% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · High school
- 3Gas Plant Operators
77% similar · $87,820 · High school
- 4Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $74,510 · Training or associate
- 5Nuclear Technicians
75% similar · $110,240 · Training or associate
- 6Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
75% similar · $92,100 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 7Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $59,920 · Bachelor's degree
- 8Power Distributors and Dispatchers
73% similar · $106,730 · Training or associate
- 9Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
73% similar · $48,570 · High school
- 10Biomass Plant Technicians
73% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school
- 11Chemical Technicians
72% similar · $60,390 · Training or associate
- 12Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
72% similar · $96,710 · High school
- 13Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
72% similar · $43,960 · High school
- 14Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
72% similar · $61,390 · High school
- 15Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
72% similar · $60,600 · High school
- 16Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
72% similar · $103,020 · Training or associate
- 17Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
72% similar · $60,020 · High school
- 18Biofuels Processing Technicians
72% similar · $62,470 (broader group) · High school
- 19Automotive Engineering Technicians
71% similar · $74,510 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 20Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
71% similar · $43,220 · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists78% similar · High school
- Gas Plant Operators77% similar · High school
- Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation75% similar · High school
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers73% similar · High school
- Biomass Plant Technicians73% similar · High school
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers72% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for aviation inspectors also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where aviation inspectors is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (78)
- Construction and Building Inspectors (75)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (75)
- Agricultural Inspectors (73)
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (73)
- Chemical Technicians (72)
- Gas Plant Operators (72)
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage (72)
- Airfield Operations Specialists (71)
- Avionics Technicians (71)
Questions about jobs like aviation inspectors
What jobs are most similar to aviation inspectors?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (78% similar), Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (78% similar), Gas Plant Operators (77% similar), Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (75% similar) and Nuclear Technicians (75% similar).
Do jobs like aviation inspectors pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than aviation inspectors where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.