Find Trade Colleges
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers: Career Profile
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.
What Do Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers include:
- Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
- Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.
- Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.
- Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
- Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.
- Recommend necessary corrective actions, based on inspection results.
- Read dials or meters to verify that equipment is functioning at specified levels.
What Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Need to Know
Top inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Abrasive Grader
- Acid Tester
- Air Box Tester
- Air Conditioning Unit Tester (AC Unit Tester)
- Air Sampler
- Air Value Tester
- Aircraft Instrument Tester
- Aircraft Launching and Arresting Systems Inspector
Job Outlook
There are about 162,321 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +12.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $42,864 |
| Hourly median | $20.61 |
| 10th percentile | $27,469 |
| 25th percentile | $35,166 |
| 75th percentile | $50,562 |
| 90th percentile | $58,260 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $98,800 |
| District of Columbia | $70,030 |
| Wyoming | $59,930 |
| Maryland | $58,710 |
| Washington | $58,450 |
| Montana | $57,520 |
| Colorado | $56,370 |
| Kansas | $55,930 |
| Hawaii | $54,800 |
| Connecticut | $54,230 |
| Delaware | $53,110 |
| Minnesota | $52,390 |
| Oregon | $52,170 |
| Rhode Island | $51,810 |
| New Hampshire | $51,450 |
| North Dakota | $51,340 |
| Missouri | $50,740 |
| Arizona | $50,620 |
| California | $50,430 |
| Nebraska | $50,430 |
| Oklahoma | $50,110 |
| Louisiana | $50,080 |
| Massachusetts | $50,060 |
| Nevada | $49,050 |
| Wisconsin | $49,020 |
| West Virginia | $49,020 |
| Iowa | $48,940 |
| New Jersey | $48,850 |
| New York | $48,790 |
| Vermont | $48,740 |
| New Mexico | $48,510 |
| Utah | $48,000 |
| Virginia | $47,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,540 |
| Illinois | $47,040 |
| Maine | $47,000 |
| Indiana | $46,990 |
| Guam | $46,990 |
| South Dakota | $46,430 |
| Florida | $46,360 |
| Ohio | $46,220 |
| Kentucky | $45,470 |
| Tennessee | $44,860 |
| South Carolina | $44,840 |
| Georgia | $44,020 |
| North Carolina | $44,020 |
| Texas | $43,790 |
| Michigan | $42,440 |
| Idaho | $42,120 |
| Arkansas | $41,570 |
| Virgin Islands | $41,110 |
| Mississippi | $39,580 |
| Alabama | $39,190 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,110 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $51,792 | 14.1% | 0.86 |
| Plains States | $51,729 | 7.5% | 1.13 |
| New England | $51,387 | 4.5% | 0.99 |
| Rocky Mountains | $50,180 | 2.8% | 0.85 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,117 | 10.4% | 0.76 |
| Great Lakes | $46,072 | 22.0% | 1.56 |
| Southwest | $45,387 | 12.4% | 1.00 |
| Southeast | $44,550 | 25.7% | 1.20 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $89,040 | 80 |
| Lake Charles, LA | LA | $85,920 | 450 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | CT | $73,520 | 940 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $69,100 | 80 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $69,010 | 200 |
| Billings, MT | MT | $68,000 | 170 |
| Wichita, KS | KS | $67,880 | 3,360 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $66,410 | 90 |
Industry Breakdown
Most inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 377,260 | $48,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 51,330 | $37,560 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 49,950 | $50,300 |
| Wholesale Trade | 35,390 | $46,400 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 23,200 | $48,620 |
| Retail Trade | 9,870 | $41,260 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 9,080 | $37,430 |
| Construction | 6,450 | $58,930 |
Below are examples of industries where inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers work:
Tech Stack
- Data base management system software: Apache Hive (hot technology)
- Content workflow software: Atlassian JIRA (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Typical inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping (Primary-Long)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Primary-Long)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Supplemental)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Future inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers typically earn programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-9061.00 (Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.