Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
SOC Code: 51-9061
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers carries a 47% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $47,460 and 0.0% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 598,000 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers (SOC 51-9061) carries an AI exposure score of 47%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 598,000 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a 0.0% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $47,460, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
- 2. Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.
- 3. Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- 4. Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.
- 5. Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
- 6. Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.
- 7. Recommend necessary corrective actions, based on inspection results.
- 8. Read dials or meters to verify that equipment is functioning at specified levels.
- 9. Make minor adjustments to equipment, such as turning setscrews to calibrate instruments to required tolerances.
- 10. Read blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required.
Key Skills Required
- Quality Control Analysis
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Time Management
Knowledge Areas
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Engineering and Technology
- Administrative
- Public Safety and Security
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers?
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers has an AI exposure score of 47%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers is projected to grow by 0.0% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 598,000 workers.
What skills are needed for Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers?
Key skills for Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers include Quality Control Analysis, Writing, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn?
The median annual wage for Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers is $47,460, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers?
The typical entry-level education for Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers?
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).