U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsInspect, 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.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 410,750 | 0.8 % | $17.09 | $35,550 | 0.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $9.68 | $12.19 | $15.88 | $20.72 | $26.72 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $20,140 | $25,360 | $33,030 | $43,110 | $55,570 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Services | 24,600 | 0.92 | $14.05 | $29,230 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 17,650 | 3.67 | $22.94 | $47,720 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 16,620 | 3.31 | $15.40 | $32,030 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 15,870 | 1.24 | $19.05 | $39,620 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 15,870 | 4.32 | $16.09 | $33,470 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing | 4,860 | 6.03 | $15.82 | $32,910 |
| Fabric Mills | 2,840 | 5.43 | $13.90 | $28,900 |
| Apparel Knitting Mills | 840 | 5.05 | $12.09 | $25,150 |
| Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 1,700 | 4.75 | $12.74 | $26,490 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 5,580 | 4.65 | $17.27 | $35,920 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 1,180 | 0.30 | $26.85 | $55,840 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 820 | 0.76 | $25.71 | $53,470 |
| Rail Transportation | 70 | 0.03 | $25.03 | $52,070 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | 60 | 0.90 | $24.76 | $51,500 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 2,250 | 0.04 | $23.82 | $49,540 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 47,080 | 3.36 | 1.04 | $17.65 | $36,700 |
| Texas | 30,220 | 3.00 | 0.93 | $16.73 | $34,810 |
| Pennsylvania | 20,430 | 3.73 | 1.15 | $17.57 | $36,540 |
| Ohio | 20,050 | 4.07 | 1.26 | $17.19 | $35,760 |
| Michigan | 19,270 | 5.13 | 1.59 | $17.72 | $36,860 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 16,960 | 6.22 | 1.93 | $16.37 | $34,050 |
| Michigan | 19,270 | 5.13 | 1.59 | $17.72 | $36,860 |
| Wisconsin | 13,320 | 5.11 | 1.58 | $15.85 | $32,970 |
| Arkansas | 5,750 | 5.06 | 1.57 | $14.53 | $30,220 |
| Kentucky | 8,620 | 5.03 | 1.56 | $16.45 | $34,220 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 350 | 1.15 | 0.36 | $25.79 | $53,640 |
| District of Columbia | 120 | 0.18 | 0.06 | $24.84 | $51,660 |
| New Mexico | 1,040 | 1.34 | 0.41 | $22.35 | $46,490 |
| Washington | 7,660 | 2.84 | 0.88 | $21.60 | $44,920 |
| Wyoming | 710 | 2.64 | 0.82 | $20.62 | $42,880 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 13,710 | 3.59 | 1.11 | $17.72 | $36,860 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division | 10,570 | 2.98 | 0.92 | $17.58 | $36,560 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 9,640 | 3.86 | 1.20 | $17.42 | $36,230 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 7,160 | 1.44 | 0.45 | $17.82 | $37,070 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 7,050 | 5.13 | 1.59 | $17.54 | $36,480 |
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 5,280 | 2.92 | 0.90 | $19.50 | $40,560 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA | 5,220 | 2.37 | 0.73 | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 5,210 | 2.60 | 0.81 | $16.70 | $34,750 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 5,050 | 6.44 | 1.99 | $15.30 | $31,830 |
| Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division | 4,980 | 4.89 | 1.51 | $19.06 | $39,640 |