Vehicle inspector vs equipment inspector

The differences between vehicle inspectors and equipment inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a vehicle inspector and an equipment inspector. Additionally, an equipment inspector has an average salary of $50,976, which is higher than the $47,110 average annual salary of a vehicle inspector.

The top three skills for a vehicle inspector include inspect vehicles, mechanical problems and cleanliness. The most important skills for an equipment inspector are safety equipment, troubleshoot, and technical manuals.

Vehicle inspector vs equipment inspector overview

	Vehicle Inspector	Equipment Inspector
Yearly salary	$47,110	$50,976
Hourly rate	$22.65	$24.51
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	18,031	31,555
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	49	49
Years of experience	2	2

What does a vehicle inspector do?

Vehicle inspectors are professionals who are responsible for examining motor vehicles to ensure that they meet all the requirements established by the department of motor vehicles of a state. These inspectors are required to conduct safety and emissions inspections to make sure that all vehicles are following the emission standards and governmental regulations. They must use computerized diagnostic tools to identify the mechanical problems of vehicles. Vehicle inspectors must also check the vehicles for any damages, broken headlines, leaks, and faulty blinkers.

What does an equipment inspector do?

The primary responsibility of an equipment inspector is to check equipment for any damage and perform troubleshooting. If the damage is beyond their capability, they transport the damaged equipment to reliable repair shops and report it to persons concerned. They also monitor and ensure that staff is following safety protocols while working. They manage systemic and scheduled troubleshooting to improve performance and decrease utility repair expenses. They are reliable when it comes to safety standards and ensuring precautions are followed and applied.

Vehicle inspector vs equipment inspector salary

Vehicle inspectors and equipment inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Vehicle Inspector	Equipment Inspector
Average salary	$47,110	$50,976
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $76,000	Between $29,000 And $88,000
Highest paying City	Newark, NJ	Tampa, FL
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New Jersey
Best paying company	Parsons	Jefferson Lab
Best paying industry	Internet	-

Differences between vehicle inspector and equipment inspector education

There are a few differences between a vehicle inspector and an equipment inspector in terms of educational background:

	Vehicle Inspector	Equipment Inspector
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Automotive Technology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Vehicle inspector vs equipment inspector demographics

Here are the differences between vehicle inspectors' and equipment inspectors' demographics:

	Vehicle Inspector	Equipment Inspector
Average age	49	49
Gender ratio	Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8%	Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 14.0% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between vehicle inspector and equipment inspector duties and responsibilities

Vehicle inspector example responsibilities.

Specialize in HVAC system on subway cars.
Work in several Honda plants in Ohio and warehousing.
Represent SGS and build relationships with auto dealerships and customers.
Inspect car components for compliance with FRA and AAR standards.
Submit completed inspection billing statements to SGS finance department for payments.
Perform inspections for Honda financial, ally financial, Chrysler financial.

Equipment inspector example responsibilities.

Perform visual, auditory and/or road test inspections on cranes, bulldozers, and other engineering equipment.
Work with project manager for major renovations including plumbing, drywall, painting, electrical, HVAC and carpentry.
Prepare logistics to ship and receive supplies for storage.
Conduct initial, in-process, road test and final QC inspection of equipment.
Inspect repairs to winches and hoists to ensure that repair work are performed properly.
Inspect winches and hoists to ensure compliance with rules, standards, or regulations.

Vehicle inspector vs equipment inspector skills

Common vehicle inspector skills

Inspect Vehicles, 25%
Mechanical Problems, 17%
Cleanliness, 13%
Condition Reports, 6%
Inspection Reports, 6%
Structural Damage, 6%

Common equipment inspector skills

Safety Equipment, 20%
Troubleshoot, 10%
Technical Manuals, 8%
Inspection Reports, 8%
Safety Procedures, 7%
API, 7%

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Vehicle Inspector
Vehicle Inspector vs Equipment Inspector

Updated January 8, 2025

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