What Do Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher Do?

Occupation Description Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

Life As an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher: What Do They Do?

• Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.
• Read blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required.
• Weigh materials, products, containers, or samples to verify packaging weights or ingredient quantities.
• Read dials or meters to verify that equipment is functioning at specified levels.
• Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
• Monitor production operations or equipment to ensure conformance to specifications, making necessary process or assembly adjustments.

Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher Required Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers say are important on the job.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Other Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher Job Titles

• Buckle Inspector
• Steel Inspector
• Warp Tester
• Tea Taster
• Quality Assurance Specialist (QA Specialist)

Job Opportunities for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

In the United States, there were 520,700 jobs for Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 52,700 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher are Nevada, North Dakota, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Make A Lot Of Money?

The salary for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers ranges between about $23,550 and $65,510 a year.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers who work in Alaska, District of Columbia, or Washington, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$34,960
Alaska	$71,510
Arizona	$40,680
Arkansas	$33,900
California	$45,120
Colorado	$46,880
Connecticut	$51,260
Delaware	$41,030
District of Columbia	$60,460
Florida	$40,250
Georgia	$37,880
Hawaii	$36,960
Idaho	$37,410
Illinois	$41,610
Indiana	$39,580
Iowa	$42,490
Kansas	$44,850
Kentucky	$39,510
Louisiana	$50,670
Maine	$46,140
Maryland	$48,650
Massachusetts	$46,510
Michigan	$36,550
Minnesota	$42,470
Mississippi	$35,850
Missouri	$42,860
Montana	$48,630
Nebraska	$41,820
Nevada	$39,850
New Hampshire	$44,020
New Jersey	$42,770
New Mexico	$54,690
New York	$42,580
North Carolina	$37,370
North Dakota	$52,620
Ohio	$41,510
Oklahoma	$45,060
Oregon	$43,540
Pennsylvania	$41,850
Rhode Island	$44,660
South Carolina	$39,110
South Dakota	$36,250
Tennessee	$37,380
Texas	$42,500
Utah	$39,450
Vermont	$45,840
Virginia	$41,500
Washington	$59,310
West Virginia	$45,630
Wisconsin	$40,750
Wyoming	$51,380

What Tools do Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Access
• Data entry software
• SAP
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Microsoft Visio
• Microsoft SharePoint
• The MathWorks MATLAB
• IBM Notes
• FileMaker Pro
• Extensible markup language XML
• R
• Minitab
• Dassault Systemes CATIA
• Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
• Medical condition coding software

How to Become an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher

Are there Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…

Are you already one of the many Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
• Upholsterers

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Gina Collecchia via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.