Production
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
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.
Median pay
$48,570
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
66,700
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers: 51% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: Inspector · QA Auditor (Quality Assurance Auditor) · QA Inspector (Quality Assurance Inspector) · QA Technician (Quality Assurance Technician) · QC Technician (Quality Control Technician) · Quality Auditor · Quality Control Inspector (QC Inspector) · Quality Inspector
Outlook and AI
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers held 602,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 617,200 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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