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Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in California
Considering working as an Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in California? Here’s what the data says. 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 Make in California?
For a inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers working in California, wages run about $50,430 per year (or about $24.24/hour).Annual wages span from $37,830 at the 10th percentile to $82,680 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,830 | $18.19 |
| 25th percentile | $43,270 | $20.80 |
| Median (50th) | $50,430 | $24.24 |
| 75th percentile | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| 90th percentile | $82,680 | $39.75 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California nationwide is 0.87, meaning fewer inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn a median of $42,864 per year ($20.61/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 162,321 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers nationwide. In California alone, around 60,280 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 7,330 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers.
Top California Metros for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
The metro areas below employ the most inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 22,770 | $49,530 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 6,860 | $58,950 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 5,750 | $46,240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 5,550 | $56,110 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 5,230 | $58,460 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,940 | $51,080 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1,400 | $46,020 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,330 | $42,980 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,260 | $48,850 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 980 | $48,280 |
| Modesto, CA | 710 | $51,920 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 630 | $58,240 |
| Visalia, CA | 560 | $44,770 |
| Salinas, CA | 500 | $43,060 |
| Vallejo, CA | 490 | $51,510 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 470 | $50,260 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 310 | $50,570 |
| Merced, CA | 250 | $43,190 |
| Napa, CA | 240 | $49,080 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 200 | $52,630 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 150 | $64,900 |
| El Centro, CA | 120 | $45,430 |
| Redding, CA | 110 | $50,100 |
| Chico, CA | 90 | $46,480 |
| Yuba City, CA | 90 | $45,880 |
Top States for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 60,280 |
| Texas | 55,320 |
| Ohio | 31,010 |
| Illinois | 30,740 |
| Michigan | 29,370 |
| Pennsylvania | 23,100 |
| Indiana | 21,880 |
| Florida | 21,060 |
| New York | 20,540 |
| Georgia | 20,140 |
| North Carolina | 19,830 |
| Wisconsin | 17,750 |
| Tennessee | 17,530 |
| South Carolina | 14,900 |
| Alabama | 13,080 |
| Kentucky | 12,900 |
| New Jersey | 12,610 |
| Washington | 12,090 |
| Missouri | 12,080 |
| Massachusetts | 10,790 |
Highest-Paying States for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
The highest-paying states for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers.
| 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 |
Skills
The most important inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks 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.
- Make minor adjustments to equipment, such as turning setscrews to calibrate instruments to required tolerances.
- Read blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required.
- Monitor production operations or equipment to ensure conformance to specifications, making necessary process or assembly adjustments.
- Record inspection or test data, such as weights, temperatures, grades, or moisture content, and quantities inspected or graded.
Work Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Processing Information
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Apache Hive, Atlassian JIRA, Autodesk AutoCAD In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
Related Careers
Other careers like inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers include:
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
Also Known 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, Aligning Inspector, Alloy Weigher, Aluminum Boat Inspector, Aluminum Container Tester, Ammunition Components Inspector, Ampoule Examiner, Ampoule Inspector.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-9061.00