Also called: Product Authenticator, Resale Authentication Specialist
Inspects sneakers and streetwear sold on resale sites to make sure they are not counterfeit.
At a resale company's center, authenticators check stitching, smell the glue, compare labels and boxes, and use UV lights to spot fakes, inspecting dozens of pairs a day.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. Trained by the company; sneaker knowledge helps.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 51-9061: Average (3% to 4%).
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI photo-authentication apps already check many pairs; warehouse inspections may shrink to edge cases by 2036.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to authenticator openings at StockX, GOAT or eBay's authentication centers
Classes: Art/fashion, Business, Chemistry, Computer applications.
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.