Inspectors and Testers salary in the US
A data-first look at inspectors, testers and sorters' pay: the median, the thresholds for the top 25% and top 10%, and how earnings vary across the country.
How much do inspectors, testers and sorters earn?
The typical (median) annual earnings for inspectors, testers and sorters come to $48,881, which is 7% less than the $52,508 median for all US earners aged 25 and older. That ranks 107th of 171 occupation groups, just below the middle of the range. The figures come from 37,712 survey records of people aged 25 and older with earnings in this occupation.
| Position | Annual earnings |
|---|---|
| Top 10% start at | $101,525 |
| Top 25% start at | $72,618 |
| Median (top 50%) | $48,881 |
| Bottom 25% earn below | $31,772 |
How wide is the pay range?
A worker earning $72,618 would already be in the top quarter of inspectors, testers and sorters; the top 10% begins around $101,525, 2.1 times the midpoint. A quarter of workers in the field made $31,772 or less over the year — a figure shaped by part-time and seasonal work as much as by hourly rates. The median is 1.5 times that lower-quarter line.
Earnings by age
The age curve is gentle: $44,688 for workers aged 25–34, peaking at $52,474 for those aged 35–44. Among those 65 and older who still work, the median is $40,276, 23% below the peak — reduced schedules explain much of that.
Men and women
Women in this occupation have a median of $40,327, 28% below the $55,860 men report. Women make up roughly 38% of the survey records here (an unweighted count, so treat it as approximate). The comparison isn't like-for-like on hours or seniority, so read it as a description rather than a pay-equity measure.
| Group | Median earnings | Survey records |
|---|---|---|
| Men | $55,860 | 23,292 |
| Women | $40,327 | 14,420 |
Does education change the pay?
The spread by education is moderate — 57% between workers with a high school education or less ($42,771) and those with a master's degree ($67,018). The largest group in the sample has a high school education or less (16,832 records). Levels with fewer than 100 records are left out rather than estimated.
| Education | Median earnings | Survey records |
|---|---|---|
| High school or less | $42,771 | 16,832 |
| Some college / associate | $52,474 | 13,940 |
| Bachelor's | $58,885 | 5,448 |
| Master's | $67,018 | 1,261 |
| Professional degree | $56,567 | 134 |
| Doctorate | Not shown (<100 records) | 97 |
Where the most work, and what they earn there
In terms of headcount in the survey, California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan lead the country. The state medians range from $45,244 in Michigan up to $50,116 in Texas. These are nominal dollars — living costs differ just as much between states and aren't adjusted for. 43 states have enough records (100+) for their own figure.
| State | Median earnings | Survey records |
|---|---|---|
| California | $48,881 | 4,438 |
| Texas | $50,116 | 3,275 |
| Ohio | $45,686 | 1,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,325 | 1,790 |
| Michigan | $45,244 | 1,547 |
Occupations with similar pay
Nearby on the pay scale are food service managers ($48,881), clergy ($48,881), licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses ($49,156), and truck and delivery drivers ($49,400). The jobs differ in training and working conditions; matching medians just means the typical paycheck is comparable.
| Occupation | Median earnings | vs. this job |
|---|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $48,881 | 0% |
| Clergy | $48,881 | 0% |
| Licensed Practical And Licensed Vocational Nurses | $49,156 | +1% |
| Truck Drivers | $49,400 | +1% |
| Farmers, Ranchers | $47,730 | −2% |
About these figures
How to read these numbers: they are annual personal earnings (wages plus self-employment income) for people aged 25+ who reported working as inspectors, testers and sorters, pooled over 2020–2024 and adjusted to 2024 dollars. Part-time and part-year workers are included. Every group shown has at least 100 survey records; 37,712 records sit behind the headline median.
See where your pay ranks among inspectors, testers and sorters
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Open the calculatorSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) — personal earnings (PERNP) in 2024 dollars, person-weighted
Reference statistics only — not financial advice.