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.
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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.

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References:
Image Credit: Gina Collecchia via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
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