Average Salary for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
SOC 51-9061 · Production Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in the United States is $47,460 ($22.82/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $34,590 at the 10th percentile to $75,510 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 591,180 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 34.3% since 2014.
Median Annual
$47,460
Mean Annual
$51,670
10th Pct
$34,590
75th Pct
$59,970
Employment
591,180
Salary Distribution
$35k
10th
$39k
25th
$47k
Median
$60k
75th
$76k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $89,040 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $85,920 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $73,520 |
| Anchorage, AK | $69,100 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $69,010 |
| Billings, MT | $68,000 |
| Wichita, KS | $67,880 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $66,410 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,900 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $62,800 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $62,480 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $62,400 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $62,380 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $62,170 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $61,930 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $98,800 |
| District of Columbia | $70,030 |
| Wyoming | $59,930 |
| Maryland | $58,710 |
| Washington | $58,450 |
| Montana | $57,520 |
| Colorado | $56,370 |
| Kansas | $55,930 |
| Hawaii | $54,800 |
| Connecticut | $54,230 |
| Delaware | $53,110 |
| Minnesota | $52,390 |
| Oregon | $52,170 |
| Rhode Island | $51,810 |
| New Hampshire | $51,450 |
| North Dakota | $51,340 |
| Missouri | $50,740 |
| Arizona | $50,620 |
| California | $50,430 |
| Nebraska | $50,430 |
| Oklahoma | $50,110 |
| Louisiana | $50,080 |
| Massachusetts | $50,060 |
| Nevada | $49,050 |
| Wisconsin | $49,020 |
| West Virginia | $49,020 |
| Iowa | $48,940 |
| New Jersey | $48,850 |
| New York | $48,790 |
| Vermont | $48,740 |
| New Mexico | $48,510 |
| Utah | $48,000 |
| Virginia | $47,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,540 |
| Illinois | $47,040 |
| Maine | $47,000 |
| Guam | $46,990 |
| Indiana | $46,990 |
| South Dakota | $46,430 |
| Florida | $46,360 |
| Ohio | $46,220 |
| Kentucky | $45,470 |
| Tennessee | $44,860 |
| South Carolina | $44,840 |
| Georgia | $44,020 |
| North Carolina | $44,020 |
| Texas | $43,790 |
| Michigan | $42,440 |
| Idaho | $42,120 |
| Arkansas | $41,570 |
| Virgin Islands | $41,110 |
| Mississippi | $39,580 |
| Alabama | $39,190 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,110 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $105,180 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $105,180 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation | $105,110 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | $101,110 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | $100,670 |
| Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors | $100,250 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $93,990 |
| Pipeline Transportation | $91,710 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $91,700 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | $91,190 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $87,260 |
| Air Transportation | $86,010 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $83,870 |
| Utilities | $81,760 |
| Utilities | $81,760 |
| Coal Mining | $81,540 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $76,910 |
| Offices of Physicians | $73,830 |
| Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations | $71,920 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors | $70,650 |
| Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $70,130 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $69,680 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $69,620 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $69,160 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $69,100 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $67,810 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $67,590 |
| Water Transportation | $67,220 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $66,180 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $66,180 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $66,000 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $65,600 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $65,520 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $64,930 |
| Wind Electric Power Generation | $64,880 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $64,710 |
| Home Health Care Services | $64,510 |
| Construction of Buildings | $63,630 |
| Roofing Contractors | $63,310 |
| Facilities Support Services | $62,640 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $62,540 |
| Insurance Carriers | $62,050 |
| Engineering Services | $61,460 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $61,400 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $61,400 |
| Software Publishers | $61,390 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $61,100 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $61,050 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $61,000 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $60,990 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $60,990 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $60,960 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $60,850 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $60,650 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $60,280 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $60,030 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $59,800 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $59,800 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | $59,770 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $59,140 |
| Tobacco Manufacturing | $59,120 |
| Residential Building Construction | $59,050 |
| Construction | $58,930 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $58,870 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | $58,810 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $58,780 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $58,680 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $58,670 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $58,000 |
| Hospitals | $58,000 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | $57,980 |
| Educational Services | $57,450 |
| Educational Services | $57,450 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | $57,310 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $57,270 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $57,140 |
| Utility System Construction | $56,900 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $56,840 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $56,790 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | $56,770 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | $56,710 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $56,700 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $56,610 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $56,070 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $55,950 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $55,670 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services | $55,510 |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $55,250 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $55,030 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $54,920 |
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation | $54,830 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $54,540 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $54,520 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $54,340 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $54,000 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $53,720 |
| Investigation and Security Services | $53,300 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $53,230 |
| Security Systems Services | $52,850 |
| Other Insurance Related Activities | $52,530 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $52,530 |
| Machine Shops | $52,460 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $52,370 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | $52,100 |
| Finance and Insurance | $52,000 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $51,980 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $51,940 |
| Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers | $51,710 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $51,670 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $51,660 |
| Information | $51,620 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $51,620 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $51,620 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $51,530 |
| Publishing Industries | $51,240 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $51,110 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | $50,890 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $50,820 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | $50,760 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $50,670 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $50,670 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $50,670 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $50,560 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $50,560 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $50,440 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $50,440 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $50,370 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $50,320 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $50,300 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $50,300 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $50,200 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $50,090 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | $49,990 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $49,930 |
| Telecommunications | $49,830 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $49,700 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $49,610 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $49,470 |
| Automotive Mechanical and Electrical Repair and Maintenance | $49,460 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $49,390 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $48,930 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $48,920 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $48,920 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $48,880 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $48,870 |
| Foundries | $48,860 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $48,860 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $48,820 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $48,750 |
| Automobile Dealers | $48,750 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $48,710 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $48,660 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $48,630 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $48,620 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $48,620 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $48,560 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $48,430 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | $48,370 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $48,260 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $48,180 |
| Manufacturing | $48,170 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $48,080 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $48,000 |
| Other Motor Vehicle Dealers | $47,840 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $47,830 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $47,830 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $47,710 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $47,540 |
| Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers | $47,490 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $47,410 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $47,370 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $47,370 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $47,360 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | $47,200 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | $47,160 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers | $47,100 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) | $47,100 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $47,060 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation | $47,000 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $46,840 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $46,760 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | $46,660 |
| Wholesale Trade | $46,400 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $46,300 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $46,300 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $46,260 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $46,200 |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers | $46,060 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers | $46,060 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $46,040 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $46,030 |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers | $45,980 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | $45,870 |
| Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers | $45,810 |
| Electronics and Appliance Retailers | $45,760 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $45,730 |
| Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $45,720 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | $45,590 |
| Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers | $45,550 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers | $45,540 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | $45,530 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $45,340 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $45,340 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | $45,320 |
| Specialized Design Services | $45,160 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $45,060 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $44,800 |
| Truck Transportation | $44,780 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $44,770 |
| Food Manufacturing | $44,770 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $44,740 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | $44,670 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | $44,590 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $44,360 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $44,250 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $44,070 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | $44,060 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | $43,710 |
| Special Food Services | $43,710 |
| Support Activities for Road Transportation | $43,700 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors | $43,140 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | $43,030 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $42,970 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $42,790 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement | $42,720 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $42,540 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $42,540 |
| Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | $41,550 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | $41,460 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $41,390 |
| Retail Trade | $41,260 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | $40,840 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | $40,670 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $40,630 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $40,630 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $40,560 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $40,400 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $40,400 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $40,260 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $40,220 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $40,000 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $39,990 |
| Sporting Goods Retailers | $39,880 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $39,520 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $39,310 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $39,210 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $39,200 |
| Other Support Activities for Transportation | $39,100 |
| Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | $38,990 |
| Other Support Services | $38,800 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $38,760 |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | $38,720 |
| Textile Product Mills | $38,710 |
| Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | $38,700 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $38,410 |
| Accommodation | $38,410 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $38,350 |
| Business Support Services | $38,110 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $38,050 |
| Fabric Mills | $38,010 |
| Support Activities for Animal Production | $37,880 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry | $37,570 |
| Support Activities for Crop Production | $37,570 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $37,570 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $37,560 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $37,490 |
| Textile Mills | $37,450 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $37,430 |
| Office Administrative Services | $37,420 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | $37,370 |
| Individual and Family Services | $37,240 |
| Automotive Body, Paint, Interior, and Glass Repair | $37,190 |
| Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | $37,140 |
| Employment Services | $36,940 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $36,880 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | $36,850 |
| Other Textile Product Mills | $36,750 |
| Temporary Help Services | $36,690 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $36,620 |
| Waste Collection | $36,470 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $36,130 |
| Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | $35,940 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | $35,850 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $35,800 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $35,800 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $35,510 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery | $35,510 |
| Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | $35,370 |
| Apparel Knitting Mills | $35,230 |
| Apparel Manufacturing | $35,100 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $34,810 |
| Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $34,800 |
| Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | $33,980 |
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services | $33,360 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $33,150 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $32,790 |
| Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | $32,210 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $32,140 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | $31,720 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $31,360 |
| Footwear Manufacturing | $31,200 |
| Social Assistance | $31,200 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $31,040 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $29,120 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4594 and 4595 only) | $28,150 |
| Other Personal Services | $27,480 |
| Fuel Dealers | $26,230 |
| Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers | $26,230 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $25,070 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $47,460 |
| 2023 | $45,850 |
| 2022 | $43,900 |
| 2021 | $38,580 |
| 2020 | $40,460 |
| 2019 | $39,140 |
| 2018 | $38,250 |
| 2017 | $37,340 |
| 2016 | $36,780 |
| 2015 | $36,000 |
| 2014 | $35,330 |