State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers earn a median of $48,570 per year ($23.35/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 0.0% through 2034, with about 69,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 51-9061ProductionLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $48,570
- Projected growth
- 0.0%
- Openings a year
- 69,900
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Inspector, QA Auditor (Quality Assurance Auditor), QA Inspector (Quality Assurance Inspector), QA Technician (Quality Assurance Technician), QC Technician (Quality Control Technician), Quality Auditor.
How much do Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers make?
10th percentile$35,510
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$39,890
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$48,570
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$61,440
Upper quartile
90th percentile$77,860
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $48,570 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $23.35/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $53,450 |
| People employed | 597,370 |
Versus all US occupations
At $48,570, Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers earn 5% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,410 a year.
Versus production occupations
The median is typical for the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $47,920.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $77,860 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,510, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 26% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Alaska pays the most at $78,150, and still leads at $76,349 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $78,150 | $76,349 | 300 |
| Washington | $64,420 | $60,198 | 12,010 |
| Maryland | $61,790 | $58,871 | 4,600 |
| Hawaii | $59,740 | $54,333 | 650 |
| District of Columbia | $59,730 | $54,349 | 70 |
| Colorado | $58,350 | $56,622 | 5,220 |
| Montana | $58,070 | $61,356 | 580 |
| Wyoming | $57,900 | $62,466 | 990 |
| Delaware | $57,190 | $57,300 | 1,020 |
| Minnesota | $57,170 | $57,969 | 9,710 |
Is Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher a growing career?
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers0.0%
All US occupations3.1%
0.0% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers to change 0.0% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 69,900 openings are projected each year, 11.7% of the 598,000 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite declining employment, about 69,900 openings for quality control inspectors are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Continued improvements in technology will allow manufacturers to automate some inspection tasks, which should increase quality control inspectors’ productivity. For example, use of three-dimensional (3D) scanners decreases the amount of time required to inspect parts and finished goods for correct measurement. As a result, reduced demand is expected for some quality control inspectors.
Despite technological advances in quality control in many industries, automation cannot replace all tasks that inspectors do. Inspections and validation will continue to be needed for many products, including those that require testing for taste, texture, or performance.
How to become an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher
Quality control inspectors typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and receive on-the-job training once employed.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Little or no preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers.
- High School Diploma69.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate26.9%
- Some College Courses2.6%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)0.7%
What does an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher do?
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.
Quality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
- Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.
- Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
- Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- Read blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required.
- Read dials or meters to verify that equipment is functioning at specified levels.
- Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.
- Monitor production operations or equipment to ensure conformance to specifications, making necessary process or assembly adjustments.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers work
| Manufacturing | 63% |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 9% |
| Administrative and support services | 8% |
| Wholesale trade | 6% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Writing3.3/5
- Critical Thinking3.3/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Mathematics2.6/5
- Active Learning2.4/5
Transferable skills
- Quality Control Analysis3.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Operations Monitoring3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.9/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Operation and Control2.9/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary5.7
Investigativeprimary3.4
Artistic1.0
Social1.0
Enterprising1.4
Conventionalprimary5.4
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher: frequently asked questions
How much do Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers make?
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers earn a median of $48,570 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.35/hr. The middle half earn between $39,890 and $61,440. The top 10% earn $77,860 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 69.8% hold high school diploma.
Is Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.0% over 2024–2034 against 3.1% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 69,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher do?
Quality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications. A core O*NET task: inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Content workflow software.
Which states pay Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers the most?
The highest state medians for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers are Alaska ($78,150), Washington ($64,420), Maryland ($61,790) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher?
O*NET scores Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.