Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers play a key role in checking products and materials to ensure they meet required standards. This occupation employs about 598,000 people nationally, showing it is a sizable part of the workforce. The national median annual salary of $47,460 places these roles in a solid earnings range for a job that typically requires only a high school diploma or equivalent. Employment is projected to grow at 0.0%, so new opportunities are expected to come mainly from job changes and retirements rather than overall expansion. With an estimated 70,000 annual openings, there is ongoing turnover and replacement demand. The work draws on a mix of mechanical, scientific, and mathematical skills, along with strong attention to detail and physical stamina. For people who are adaptable, comfortable with hands-on tasks, and able to focus on quality and accuracy, this career can offer steady opportunities across many locations and settings.
The national median annual salary for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers is $47,460, providing a baseline for evaluating earning potential. Pay varies meaningfully by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington reports a median salary of $64,420, and Colorado shows $58,350, while California offers $54,300. Massachusetts and New York have median salaries of $52,270 and $49,990, respectively. At the metro level, several areas stand out with higher median pay: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has $62,340, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has $61,820, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has $60,610. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ also sit above the national median. Overall, earnings can be notably higher in certain states and metros, creating options for workers who are able to target or relocate to higher-paying regions.
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers have national employment of about 598,000, indicating a large established workforce. Projected employment growth is 0.0%, which suggests the total number of jobs is expected to remain stable rather than expand or contract significantly. However, the occupation still has an estimated 70,000 annual openings. These openings are likely tied to ongoing turnover and replacement needs rather than net growth in the field. For job seekers, this means that while the overall job count is not projected to increase, there should still be consistent opportunities to enter or move within the occupation as positions open up. People considering this field can focus on building the listed core skills—such as mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and critical and analytical thinking—to compete effectively for available roles in this steady but not growing employment landscape.
Location can make a significant difference for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers, both in pay and in the overall strength of opportunities. Among states, California has the highest employment level listed, with 61,130 positions and a median salary of $54,300, paired with a strong opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also show solid combinations of pay and employment, with median salaries of $52,270 and $49,990 and opportunity scores above 65. Washington and Colorado feature higher median salaries of $64,420 and $58,350, respectively, alongside mid-50s opportunity scores, which may appeal to those prioritizing higher wages. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ rank highest by opportunity score, both above 77. San Jose offers a median salary of $60,610, while New York reports $50,160. Other metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH combine relatively high median pay with strong opportunity scores, giving candidates several concentrated regional options.
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers typically enter the field with a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes it accessible to students and career changers who may not have a college degree but are ready to develop relevant skills. Success in this occupation relies heavily on a core skill set rather than advanced formal education. Key skills include mechanical aptitude, science knowledge, and mathematics, which support understanding of equipment and measurements. Detail orientation and fine motor skills are important for handling precise inspection and testing tasks. Physical strength and stamina help with roles that involve standing, moving materials, or repetitive motions. Adaptability is useful for adjusting to different products, processes, or tools, and computers and information technology skills support working with digital systems. Critical and analytical thinking and leadership round out the profile, helping workers solve problems and potentially take on responsibility for processes or teams as they gain experience.
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