Government watchdogs who inspect everything from nuclear plants and airlines to gas pumps and restaurants.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Nuclear Reactor Resident Inspector: A federal inspector who works full-time inside a nuclear power plant, making sure it runs safely. Typical pay $145k.
FAA Aviation Safety Inspector: Inspects airlines, pilots, mechanics, and aircraft to keep flying safe. Typical pay $125k.
NTSB Accident Investigator: Investigates plane crashes, train derailments, and pipeline explosions to find out why they happened. Typical pay $145k.
SEC Enforcement Attorney: Investigates and sues people who commit fraud in stock markets or cheat investors. Typical pay $185k.
Vehicle Defect Investigator: Investigates whether cars, airbags, tires, or self-driving systems have safety defects that require a recall. Typical pay $125k.
Chemical Accident Investigator: Investigates explosions, fires, and toxic releases at chemical plants and refineries to find out why they happened and prevent the next one. Typical pay $140k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Pipeline Safety Inspector: Inspects oil and gas pipelines to prevent leaks and explosions. Typical pay $105k.
Railroad Safety Inspector: Inspects tracks, locomotives, signals, and hazardous cargo to prevent train accidents. Typical pay $100k.
OSHA Compliance Safety Officer: Inspects workplaces to make sure employers protect workers from injuries and hazards. Typical pay $83k.
Mine Safety Inspector: Goes underground and into quarries to inspect mines for dangers like gas, cave-ins, and dust. Typical pay $88k.
FDA Investigator: Inspects food factories, drug plants, and medical device makers to protect public health. Typical pay $90k.
Consumer Product Safety Investigator: Investigates dangerous products, like exploding batteries or unsafe cribs, and gets them recalled. Typical pay $90k.
Regulatory Compliance Officer: Makes sure an organization follows the laws and regulations that apply to it. Typical pay $78k.
Building Inspector: Checks that new buildings and renovations are built safely and follow the building code. Typical pay $72k.
Elevator Inspector: Inspects elevators, escalators, and amusement rides to make sure they're safe. Typical pay $85k.
Health Inspector: Inspects restaurants, pools, and tattoo parlors to protect the public from disease. Typical pay $68k.
Truck Safety Investigator: Inspects trucking companies and big rigs to keep dangerous trucks and tired drivers off the road. Typical pay $78k.
Casino Gaming Agent: Investigates casinos and gamblers to keep gambling honest and catch cheaters. Typical pay $70k.
FCC Field Agent: Tracks down illegal radio transmitters, pirate stations, and signal jammers that interfere with airlines, police radios, and cell networks. Typical pay $100k.
Public Utility Commission Analyst: Reviews how much electric, gas, and water companies want to charge customers and whether the rates are fair. Typical pay $90k.
Cannabis Regulatory Inspector: Inspects licensed cannabis farms, labs, and dispensaries to make sure they follow state rules on testing, tracking, and sales. Typical pay $70k.
Wage and Hour Investigator: Investigates employers who cheat workers out of minimum wage or overtime, or break child labor laws. Typical pay $80k.
Animal Welfare Inspector (USDA): Inspects zoos, dog breeders, circuses, and research labs to make sure animals are treated as federal law requires. Typical pay $80k.
Radiation Control Inspector: Inspects hospitals, dental offices, and industries that use X-ray machines and radioactive materials to keep people safe from radiation. Typical pay $78k.
Professional Licensing Investigator: Investigates complaints against licensed professionals like doctors, nurses, contractors, and barbers. Typical pay $72k.
Medicaid Fraud Investigator: Investigates doctors, clinics, and nursing homes that cheat Medicaid or abuse patients, usually for a state attorney general's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Typical pay $80k.
Nursing Home Surveyor: Shows up unannounced at nursing homes and hospitals to inspect care, interview residents, and cite violations of federal rules. Typical pay $85k.
Underground Storage Tank Inspector: Inspects the buried fuel tanks under gas stations to make sure they aren't leaking gasoline into groundwater. Typical pay $64k.
Pesticide Use Investigator: Investigates complaints of pesticide drift onto homes, schools and organic farms, and checks that sprayers follow the label rules. Typical pay $62k.
Starter: fastest way in
Code Enforcement Officer: Responds to complaints about overgrown yards, junk cars, illegal signs, and unsafe buildings. Typical pay $52k.
Weights & Measures Inspector: Tests gas pumps, grocery scales, and taxi meters to make sure customers get what they pay for. Typical pay $50k.
Agricultural Inspector: Inspects crops, livestock, and imported food to stop pests and diseases and enforce quality rules. Typical pay $48k.
Athletic Commission Inspector: Works for a state athletic commission at boxing and MMA events, checking gloves, hand wraps, drug tests, and fighter safety. Typical pay $32k.
Taxi & For-Hire Vehicle Inspector: Inspects taxis, rideshare vehicles, and limos and enforces city rules that protect passengers. Typical pay $52k.
Short-Term Rental Compliance Officer: Enforces city rules on Airbnb-style rentals, finding illegal listings and making sure owners have permits and pay taxes. Typical pay $52k.
Bedding & Upholstery Law Inspector: Enforces the 'do not remove this tag' laws, checking that mattresses and stuffed furniture are sanitary and honestly labeled. Typical pay $54k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.