Also called: QC Inspector, Inspector, Tester, Sorter
Checks products and parts for defects, measuring and testing them against specifications.
You pull parts off the line every hour and measure them with calipers, gauges and a microscope. Bad parts get tagged and quarantined, and you alert the supervisor before more are made. You are the last line of defense before something goes to a customer.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High-school diploma; trained on the job. ASQ inspector certification helps you move up.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Quality Technology (certificate).
Growing slowly (about 0% over 10 years). BLS projects little change, but about 70,000 openings a year from turnover and retirements.
High risk for 10 years. AI camera inspection and automated gauging now check most parts faster than people; manual inspection jobs shrink.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply at local factories or through a staffing agency; new hires are trained on the job
Classes: Geometry, Blueprint reading, Shop class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-9061.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.