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.
- O*NET-SOC code
51-9061.00 - Preparation Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$48,570
Employment, U.S.597,370
Median hourly wage$23.35
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35,510 | $39,890 | $48,570 | $61,440 | $77,860 |
By state (51)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 13,120 | $40,010 | 1.62 |
| Alaska | 300 | $78,150 | 0.24 |
| Arizona | 11,120 | $52,100 | 0.89 |
| Arkansas | 5,880 | $44,570 | 1.17 |
| California | 61,130 | $54,300 | 0.87 |
| Colorado | 5,220 | $58,350 | 0.47 |
| Connecticut | 7,460 | $57,090 | 1.15 |
| Delaware | 1,020 | $57,190 | 0.55 |
| District of Columbia | 70 | $59,730 | 0.03 |
| Florida | 22,630 | $47,540 | 0.59 |
| Georgia | 19,980 | $46,130 | 1.06 |
| Hawaii | 650 | $59,740 | 0.27 |
| Idaho | 2,900 | $45,130 | 0.88 |
| Illinois | 31,700 | $47,920 | 1.35 |
| Indiana | 24,790 | $47,900 | 2.02 |
| Iowa | 7,230 | $50,740 | 1.21 |
| Kansas | 9,300 | $53,680 | 1.68 |
| Kentucky | 12,880 | $46,280 | 1.68 |
| Louisiana | 8,110 | $49,490 | 1.09 |
| Maine | 1,800 | $53,570 | 0.73 |
| Maryland | 4,600 | $61,790 | 0.43 |
| Massachusetts | 10,650 | $52,270 | 0.76 |
| Michigan | 27,980 | $44,490 | 1.65 |
| Minnesota | 9,710 | $57,170 | 0.86 |
| Mississippi | 6,970 | $40,670 | 1.56 |
| Missouri | 12,480 | $54,420 | 1.11 |
| Montana | 580 | $58,070 | 0.29 |
| Nebraska | 3,350 | $51,270 | 0.85 |
| Nevada | 4,040 | $49,280 | 0.68 |
| New Hampshire | 3,050 | $54,800 | 1.16 |
| New Jersey | 12,280 | $49,140 | 0.75 |
| New Mexico | 1,550 | $49,500 | 0.46 |
| New York | 19,790 | $49,990 | 0.53 |
| North Carolina | 19,700 | $46,430 | 1.04 |
| North Dakota | 1,800 | $50,820 | 1.09 |
| Ohio | 32,060 | $47,360 | 1.50 |
| Oklahoma | 7,430 | $49,630 | 1.13 |
| Oregon | 5,690 | $54,120 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | 25,870 | $48,320 | 1.11 |
| Rhode Island | 1,790 | $54,940 | 0.93 |
| South Carolina | 13,360 | $46,890 | 1.51 |
| South Dakota | 1,090 | $47,240 | 0.62 |
| Tennessee | 17,140 | $45,760 | 1.36 |
| Texas | 56,390 | $46,210 | 1.04 |
| Utah | 6,630 | $48,910 | 0.99 |
| Vermont | 900 | $46,210 | 0.77 |
| Virginia | 9,830 | $49,590 | 0.62 |
| Washington | 12,010 | $64,420 | 0.88 |
| West Virginia | 2,720 | $47,010 | 1.01 |
| Wisconsin | 17,670 | $49,610 | 1.56 |
| Wyoming | 990 | $57,900 | 0.92 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Log Graders and Scalers | 1-2 | 0.958 |
| 2 | Team Assemblers | 1-2 | 0.957 |
| 3 | Etchers and Engravers | 1-2 | 0.954 |
| 4 | Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | 1-2 | 0.953 |
| 5 | Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | 1-2 | 0.952 |
| 6 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1-2 | 0.952 |
| 7 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1-2 | 0.951 |
| 8 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 1-2 | 0.951 |
| 9 | Semiconductor Processing Technicians | 1-2 | 0.951 |
| 10 | Medical Appliance Technicians | 1-2 | 0.950 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Assemblers | Instructing | 0.76 | 0.957 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | Service Orientation | 1.00 | 0.952 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.950 |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | Equipment Maintenance | 1.62 | 0.949 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | Operation and Control | 1.00 | 0.948 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.946 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | Service Orientation | 1.00 | 0.940 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Equipment Maintenance | 1.37 | 0.939 |
| Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers | Troubleshooting | 0.87 | 0.937 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, excluding software Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Operational databases | 3 of 20 | 11.5x |
| Adobe Illustrator | 3 of 20 | 1.4x |
| Microsoft Windows | 5 of 20 | 1.0x |
| Adobe Acrobat | 3 of 20 | 0.8x |
| Email software | 3 of 20 | 0.5x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 2.75 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.25 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.00 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.25 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 2.12 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.00 | 2.12 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.62 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 1.38 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 1.12 |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.62 | 1.00 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.75 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Production and Processing | 4.28 | 4.48 |
| English Language | 3.56 | 3.50 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.36 | 3.56 |
| Mechanical | 3.22 | 3.73 |
| Mathematics | 3.15 | 3.50 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.89 | 2.95 |
| Education and Training | 2.63 | 3.42 |
| Engineering and Technology | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Administrative | 2.55 | 2.33 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.51 | 2.36 |
| Chemistry | 2.49 | 2.94 |
| Design | 2.44 | 2.80 |
| Administration and Management | 2.30 | 2.09 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.27 | 1.69 |
| Physics | 2.25 | 1.93 |
| Psychology | 1.99 | 2.20 |
| Transportation | 1.97 | 1.77 |
| Telecommunications | 1.89 | 1.08 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.87 | 1.36 |
| Foreign Language | 1.72 | 0.79 |
| Economics and Accounting | 1.69 | not rated |
| Building and Construction | 1.67 | 1.49 |
| Communications and Media | 1.63 | 1.36 |
| Law and Government | 1.59 | 0.79 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.56 | 1.13 |
| Geography | 1.48 | 0.78 |
| Biology | 1.36 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.36 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.36 | 0.64 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.33 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.31 | not rated |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.09 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.01 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Expression | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Near Vision | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Written Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Information Ordering | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Selective Attention | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Visualization | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.88 | 3.12 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Written Expression | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Control Precision | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 2.50 | 2.62 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.50 | 2.38 |
| Extent Flexibility | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Reaction Time | 2.50 | 2.12 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Time Sharing | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Static Strength | 2.38 | 2.00 |
| Number Facility | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Originality | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Memorization | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Rate Control | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.12 | 1.38 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 2.12 | 1.38 |
| Response Orientation | 2.12 | 1.38 |
| Depth Perception | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.00 | 1.62 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Stamina | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Explosive Strength | 2.00 | 1.38 |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.62 | 1.00 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.50 | 0.75 |
| Night Vision | 1.50 | 0.75 |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.50 | 0.75 |
| Sound Localization | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Microsoft Outlook in demand
- Microsoft PowerPoint in demand
- Microsoft Word in demand
- Apache Hive hot
- Atlassian JIRA hot
- Autodesk AutoCAD hot
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks hot
- Extensible markup language XML hot
- Microsoft Access hot
- Microsoft SharePoint hot
- Microsoft Visio hot
- R hot
- SAP software hot
- Selenium hot
- Structured query language SQL hot
- The MathWorks MATLAB hot
- Apache Pig
- Computer assisted design software
- Computer-aided inspection software
- Coordinate measuring machine software
- Cybermetrics GAGETrak
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Data analysis software
- Data entry software
- Database software
- Design of experiments DOE software
- FileMaker Pro
- IBM Lotus Notes
All 42
- IBM Notes
- Inspection marking systems
- Label inspection systems
- Mastercam Design
- Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software
- Medical condition coding software
- Minitab
- Skype
- Statistical process control SPC data collection devices
- Tolerance analysis software
- Verisurf Metrology
- Wilcox Associates PC-DMIS Inspection Planner
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, IN | 900 | 4.70 | $49,030 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 1,970 | 4.02 | $47,950 |
| Morristown, TN | 670 | 3.69 | $39,710 |
| Dalton, GA | 830 | 3.29 | $43,010 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 740 | 3.17 | $56,120 |
| Grand Island, NE | 470 | 3.10 | $49,740 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 740 | 3.09 | $58,850 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 7,020 | 3.05 | $40,430 |
| Wichita, KS | 3,590 | 3.03 | $63,030 |
| Mansfield, OH | 550 | 2.95 | $39,950 |