# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/inspectors-testers-sorters-samplers-and-weighers
- SOC code: 51-9061.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $48,570 (10th percentile $35,510, 90th percentile $77,860)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.5%
- Openings a year: 66,700
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 79 |
| Investigative (I) | 40 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 6 |
| Conventional (C) | 73 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 84/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 83/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 81/100)
- Getting Information (importance 77/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 75/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 73/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 69/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Quality Control Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Time Management

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Mechanical, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Engineering and Technology, Administrative, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1507) (CIP 1507, 169 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Central Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/central-washington-university-477) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $86,594 | $97,869 | $19,000 |
| [Eastern Kentucky University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/eastern-kentucky-university-866) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $75,355 | $92,289 | $24,628 |
| [Jacksonville State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/jacksonville-state-university-1321) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $72,830 | $90,850 | $19,375 |
| [Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indiana-university-of-pennsylvania-main-campus-1276) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $78,548 | $90,257 | $26,500 |
| [Keene State College-New Hampshire](https://www.collegesref.com/college/keene-state-college-new-hampshire-1371) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $69,475 | $87,710 | $26,000 |
| [Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/slippery-rock-university-of-pennsylvania-2430) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $68,404 | $84,783 | $25,000 |
| [University of Central Missouri](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-central-missouri-2892) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $75,296 | $84,738 | $19,784 |
| [Murray State University-Kentucky](https://www.collegesref.com/college/murray-state-university-kentucky-1807) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $75,788 | $84,705 | $21,500 |

## Related careers

- [Calibration Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/calibration-technologists-and-technicians): $67,820 median pay
- [Industrial Machinery Mechanics](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-machinery-mechanics): $64,520 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronic-equipment-assemblers): $45,850 median pay
- [Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aircraft-structure-surfaces-rigging-and-systems-assemblers): $65,380 median pay
- [Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electromechanical-equipment-assemblers): $45,850 median pay
- [Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/weighers-measurers-checkers-and-samplers-recordkeeping): $46,380 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.