Quality Control Inspectors

At a Glance

Make sure products meet strict quality standards
Read and interpret blueprints or work orders
Keep detailed records
Work alone most of the time
May work days, nights, or weekends
Most train on the job

Career summary

Quality control inspectors examine products to make sure they meet standards.

#No alternate titles CJ

Quality control inspectors monitor quality standards for products. They make sure companies follow product manufacturing rules. Inspectors work at all stages of production. Some inspect the materials that go into products. Others check products when they are partially complete. Other inspectors tests completed products.

Quality control inspectors read blueprints or work orders to learn about products. They analyze the information to learn how to measure or test products. They collect product samples for testing.

Inspectors take measurements, look for visible defects, or perform tests. They may use testing equipment such as thermometers, voltmeters, or moisture meters. They read gauges and dials to determine if the equipment is running properly. Fabric testers use touch to determine the grade of fabrics.

Inspectors mark items to show if they have been accepted or rejected. After testing is complete, inspectors clean and repair equipment.

After measuring samples, inspectors compare their findings against government or company standards. When there is a problem, inspectors suggest changes in production methods. They keep records of their findings. They compile the information and write reports for their supervisors.

There are many types of quality control inspectors, for example:

Mechanical inspectors check to see if parts move correctly or are greased properly
Electrical and electronics inspectors test the flow of electricity
Some inspectors check products or raw materials to see if they meet environmental standards

Quality control inspectors may work by themselves. They may also work in teams, or under a more experienced inspector. Some quality control inspectors supervise other testers.

Related careers

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Military careers

Non-Destructive Testers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to quality control inspectors.

Read work orders, manuals, or blueprints to learn what the products are and how to inspect them.
Collect samples for testing.
Check products and decide if they meet standards for quality or impact to the environment.
Position or connect parts or instruments for testing or operation.
Use tools or equipment to conduct tests.
Read dials and meters to see if equipment is running properly.
Classify and sort products by size, weight, or color.
Discard or reject products and materials that do not meet standards. Record test results.
Talk to staff and supervisors about inspection results and suggest ways to fix problems.
Take apart or discard products that do not meet standards for quality or impact to the environment.
Prepare test and inspection reports.
Clean and repair test equipment and machines.
Supervise testing staff or inspection teams.
Make minor adjustments to equipment.
Use calculators and math formulas as part of testing.

Common work activities

Quality control inspectors perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Get information needed to do the job
Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Identify objects, actions, and events
Evaluate information against standards
Judge the value of objects, services, or people
Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
Document and record information
Perform activities that use the whole body
Process information
Use computers
Make decisions and solve problems
Establish and maintain relationships
Update and use job-related knowledge
Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
Handle and move objects
Organize, plan, and prioritize work

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, quality control inspectors:

Interpersonal relationships

Have a medium level of contact with others. They interact with other workers, but also spend time working alone.
Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.
Have limited responsibility for the health and safety of others.
Communicate with others primarily by face-to-face discussions. They also use e-mail.
Sometimes work as part of a team.
Sometimes are placed in conflict situations where others may be difficult or unpleasant.

Physical work conditions

Often work indoors. They rarely work outdoors, but it depends on what they inspect or where they travel to inspect it.
May be exposed to the noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
Often wear safety attire. Sometimes wear attire to protect the product, such as food, from contamination.
Often work physically close to other workers, usually within a few feet.
May be exposed to very hot or cold temperatures, depending on the work site.

Work performance

Must fully complete and be exact in their work. Errors could result in unsafe products that seriously endanger the public's health.
Must keep up with the pace of the machinery.
Make decisions on a weekly basis that greatly affect others. They often act without consulting a supervisor.
Must meet strict daily and weekly deadlines.
Often repeat the same physical and mental tasks.

Hours/travel

Usually work full time.
May work evenings, nights, or weekends.
May work overtime to reach production goals.
May travel to other production sites, especially if working for large companies.

Physical demands

Quality control inspectors frequently:

Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
Stand for long periods of time.
Repeat the same movements.
Walk or run for long periods of time.

It is important for quality control inspectors to be able to:

See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
Understand the speech of another person.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for quality control inspectors to be able to:

See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
Determine the distance between objects.
Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.

Skills and abilities

Quality control inspectors need to:

Communicate

Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Understand spoken information.
Understand written information.
Listen to others and ask questions.
Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
Develop rules that group items in various ways.
Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with things

Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Other programs of study to consider

Training

To work as a quality control inspector, you typically need to:

have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

Some inspectors learn testing skills at professional-technical schools and two-year colleges. Computer courses are very helpful.

Work experience

Employers sometimes train experienced machine operators, assemblers, or mechanics to do quality control work.

On-the-job training

Most quality control inspectors learn their skills on the job from an experienced worker. During training, you learn:

meter, gauge, and control use;
quality control techniques;
blueprint reading; and
reporting requirements.

The length of training varies by what is being tested. Training usually lasts up to six months.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be non-destructive testers. Training lasts nine to 13 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate. You should consider taking Algebra and Geometry as your math courses and Chemistry and Physics as your science courses.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

Blueprint Reading
Drafting
Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers prefer to hire quality control inspectors who have a high school diploma or equivalent. Employers who need more complex inspecting hire experienced production workers. They may hire assemblers or machine operators because they know the product and how it is made.

Employers look for applicants who have good math and computer skills. They also look for good hand-eye coordination and vision.

For some positions, employers may prefer applicants with a two- or four-year college degree.

Tips

College-level courses in math and science are helpful. A bachelor's degree in chemistry or food science is helpful for consumer safety inspection jobs. An associate degree in civil engineering can be beneficial for jobs with firms that produce construction materials. Good oral and written communication skills are important for all jobs.

Costs to workers

Workers who belong to a union must pay membership dues and an initiation fee.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link) .

Wages

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers (SOC 51-9061)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$14.94	$18.90	$25.86	$38.89	$47.31
	Monthly	$2,589	$3,275	$4,482	$6,740	$8,199
	Yearly	$31,070	$39,310	$53,790	$80,900	$98,410
Bellingham	Hourly	$14.81	$16.89	$19.77	$24.65	$33.73
	Monthly	$2,567	$2,927	$3,426	$4,272	$5,845
	Yearly	$30,816	$35,128	$41,115	$51,270	$70,154
Bremerton-Silverdale	Hourly	$14.83	$17.26	$27.05	$32.69	$37.61
	Monthly	$2,570	$2,991	$4,688	$5,665	$6,518
	Yearly	$30,847	$35,887	$56,268	$67,990	$78,218
Clarkston-Lewiston	Hourly	$15.18	$17.09	$23.14	$28.82	$34.66
	Monthly	$2,631	$2,962	$4,010	$4,995	$6,007
	Yearly	$31,569	$35,542	$48,127	$59,953	$72,093
Kennewick-Richland	Hourly	$14.64	$18.26	$24.40	$35.45	$41.24
	Monthly	$2,537	$3,164	$4,229	$6,143	$7,147
	Yearly	$30,443	$37,970	$50,765	$73,731	$85,780
Longview	Hourly	$13.65	$23.03	$27.68	$31.53	$37.85
	Monthly	$2,366	$3,991	$4,797	$5,464	$6,559
	Yearly	$28,401	$47,922	$57,568	$65,586	$78,728
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	Hourly	$13.81	$16.27	$19.64	$26.99	$39.82
	Monthly	$2,393	$2,820	$3,404	$4,677	$6,901
	Yearly	$28,715	$33,854	$40,853	$56,145	$82,821
Olympia-Tumwater	Hourly	$12.05	$12.47	$21.92	$29.00	$32.17
	Monthly	$2,088	$2,161	$3,799	$5,026	$5,575
	Yearly	$25,067	$25,937	$45,588	$60,305	$66,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$17.04	$21.77	$29.19	$44.03	$49.54
	Monthly	$2,953	$3,773	$5,059	$7,630	$8,585
	Yearly	$35,441	$45,281	$60,713	$91,599	$103,036
Spokane-Spokane Valley	Hourly	$13.58	$16.76	$22.73	$29.25	$35.82
	Monthly	$2,353	$2,905	$3,939	$5,069	$6,208
	Yearly	$28,259	$34,874	$47,282	$60,856	$74,495
Vancouver	Hourly	$13.68	$16.57	$22.13	$28.54	$34.82
	Monthly	$2,371	$2,872	$3,835	$4,946	$6,034
	Yearly	$28,437	$34,456	$46,031	$59,355	$72,430
Walla Walla	Hourly	$16.11	$16.96	$18.39	$19.78	$28.18
	Monthly	$2,792	$2,939	$3,187	$3,428	$4,884
	Yearly	$33,501	$35,284	$38,254	$41,138	$58,606
Wenatchee	Hourly	$12.90	$14.05	$17.16	$24.70	$43.40
	Monthly	$2,236	$2,435	$2,974	$4,281	$7,521
	Yearly	$26,828	$29,240	$35,691	$51,384	$90,278
Yakima	Hourly	$12.34	$14.02	$17.07	$21.38	$30.29
	Monthly	$2,139	$2,430	$2,958	$3,705	$5,249
	Yearly	$25,664	$29,160	$35,505	$44,461	$62,985
United States	Hourly	$11.32	$14.13	$18.39	$24.51	$31.49
	Monthly	$1,962	$2,449	$3,187	$4,248	$5,457
	Yearly	$23,550	$29,390	$38,250	$50,980	$65,510

Pay varies by the type of inspecting. Work that requires more skill pays more than jobs that involve routine tasks.

Quality control inspectors who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include health insurance, sick leave, and paid vacation.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (SOC 51-9061)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	11,901	4.2%	16.1%	1,539
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	686	8.5%	13.4%	95
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties	144	6.3%	8.6%	19
Benton and Franklin Counties	231	6.9%	15.0%	31
Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties	294	8.5%	11.9%	41
Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties	562	5.5%	15.2%	75
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	249	8.4%	14.1%	35
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	477	10.9%	14.6%	69
King County	4,455	3.7%	19.6%	570
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	483	17.6%	13.8%	80
Pierce County	853	10.1%	15.2%	125
Snohomish County	2,952	-1.7%	12.4%	335
Spokane County	529	7.0%	13.9%	73
United States	574,000	-17.6%	5.2%	54,400

National employment

Major employers:

Temporary worker agencies
Motor vehicle parts manufacturers
Plastic products manufacturers
Semiconductor and other component manufacturers

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will decline. Many quality control inspections are now done by machines and computers. Some quality control is now done at the production level by assembly workers, reducing opportunities for quality control inspectors. There will still be opportunities in the medical and pharmaceutical fields.

Job opportunities will occur as a result of people retiring. Job prospects are best for those with quality control certifications.

Other resources

American Society for Nondestructive Testing
PO Box 28518
Columbus, OH 43228-0518

American Society for Quality
PO Box 3005
Milwaukee, WI 53201-3005
800.248.1946

American Welding Society
8669 NW 36 Street, #130
Miami, FL 33166
800.443.9353
305.443.9353

Engineer Girl!
National Academy of Engineering

Precision Metalforming Association
6363 Oak Tree Boulevard
Independence, OH 44131
216.901.8800

Technology Student Association
1904 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1540
888.860.9010

Washington Business Week
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

Western Wood Products Association
1500 SW First Avenue, Suite 870
Portland, OR 97201
503.224.3930

References

Career cluster

Manufacturing

Career path

Realistic (Technical)

O*Net occupation

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (51-9061.00)

O*Net job zone

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.