Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers
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.
Table of contents
What they do
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.
- Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to 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.
- Record inspection or test data, such as weights, temperatures, grades, or moisture content, and quantities inspected or graded.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Inspectors, Testers, and Weighers Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications. They measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
A typical day for an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher will also include:
- Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.
- Record inspection or test data, such as weights, temperatures, grades, or moisture content, and quantities inspected or graded.
- Fabricate, install, position, or connect components, parts, finished products, or instruments for testing or operational purposes.
- Compute usable amounts of items in shipments.
- Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Inspectors, Testers, and Weighers also disassemble defective parts or components, such as inaccurate or worn gauges or measuring instruments. They may also interpret legal requirements, provide safety information, or recommend compliance procedures to contractors, craft workers, engineers, or property owners.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Inspectors, Testers, and Weighers Compute defect percentages or averages, using formulas and calculators. They might also clean, maintain, calibrate, or repair measuring instruments or test equipment, such as dial indicators, fixed gauges, or height gauges.
In addition, they adjust, clean, or repair products or processing equipment to correct defects found during inspections.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them administer tests to assess whether engineers or operators are qualified to use the equipment.
To some Inspectors, Testers, and Weighers, it is also their responsibility to compute usable amounts of items in shipments.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
62% said they were satisfied with their job and 54% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to follow routines.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Demand for this career is growing.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.
Salary is below average.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $26,240 to $31,840 per year or $13 to $15 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $68,220 | $33 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $53,500 | $26 |
| Median | $40,460 | $19 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $31,840 | $15 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $26,240 | $13 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Air Transportation | $86510 | $41.59 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $72230 | $34.73 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $69550 | $33.44 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | $68230 | $32.80 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $67820 | $32.61 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | $65670 | $31.57 |
| Facilities Support Services | $62380 | $29.99 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $61250 | $29.45 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $61130 | $29.39 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $60810 | $29.24 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Services | 37760 | $36430 | $17.51 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 28500 | $48880 | $23.50 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 24250 | $38880 | $18.69 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 23290 | $61250 | $29.45 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 20680 | $43200 | $20.77 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 16650 | $46590 | $22.40 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 16200 | $43350 | $20.84 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 16180 | $42530 | $20.45 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 15530 | $49190 | $23.65 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 14890 | $35670 | $17.15 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Quality Control Technology
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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