Careers / Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
Opens your browser print dialog — choose “Save as PDF”.
Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$48,570
United States, 2025
Employment
597,370
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 51-9061.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$35,510
25th percentile
$39,890
75th percentile
$61,440
90th percentile
$77,860
Most important skills
- Quality Control Analysis3.8
- Writing3.3
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Monitoring3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Operation and Control2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 10 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
10
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.8 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $47,920
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSupplemental
National median $52,800
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSupplemental
National median $62,620
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSupplemental
National median $74,340
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSupplemental
National median $58,750
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSupplemental
National median $47,720
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSupplemental
National median $104,110
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSupplemental
National median $74,510
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSupplemental
National median $46,460
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSupplemental
National median $56,210
Compare with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $92,000 | 100 | 2025 |
| AK | $78,150 | 300 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $76,800 | 8,190 | 2025 |
| Savannah, GA | $72,800 | 1,110 | 2025 |
| Bremerton, WA | $71,950 | 200 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | $71,470 | 80 | 2025 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $68,060 | 180 | 2025 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $65,840 | 270 | 2025 |
| WA | $64,420 | 12,010 | 2025 |
| Bismarck, ND | $63,910 | 90 | 2025 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $63,570 | 490 | 2025 |
| Gulfport, MS | $63,520 | 600 | 2025 |
| Wichita, KS | $63,030 | 3,590 | 2025 |
| Kansas City, MO | $63,000 | 5,210 | 2025 |
| Parkersburg, WV | $62,630 | 120 | 2025 |
| Hanford, CA | $62,480 | 170 | 2025 |
| Albany, NY | $62,470 | 1,410 | 2025 |
| Albany, OR | $62,460 | 400 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $62,340 | 6,860 | 2025 |
| Bozeman, MT | $62,200 | 70 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.