Occupation · SOC 51-9061.00
Inspect, 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.
Also called: Inspector · Quality Control Inspector (QC Inspector) · Quality Inspector · Quality Technician · QA Auditor (Quality Assurance Auditor) · QA Inspector (Quality Assurance Inspector) · QA Technician (Quality Assurance Technician) · QC Technician (Quality Control Technician) · Quality Auditor · Test Technician · Abrasive Grader · Acid Tester
Job family: Production Occupations
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A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Task areas most often handled directively in observed AI conversations — candidates to delegate with light review.
Task areas where people work with AI — iterating, learning, or checking — staying in the loop rather than handing the task off.
Task areas where a human was still judged necessary in a large share of observed conversations — not a safety ruling, an observed-need signal.
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
39th-percentile task overlap — yet about 69,900 openings a year (+0% projected, BLS), and observed AI use leans 3333% copilot, not hand-off (AEI) . What exposure means →
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Moderate | 47th | -0.0 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Moderate | 47th | 0.6 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 28th | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.3), with simple added tooling (β 0.4), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.6). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Mixed signals. Today's AI/LLM studies show relatively low exposure for this job, but the older (2013) Frey–Osborne work rated it higher for computerization and robotics. Different eras, different technologies — the AI measures above reflect the current state.
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 1.0 · 97th percentile among occupations · High
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Analyze test data, making computations as necessary, to determine test results. | 15.0% | |
| Fabricate, install, position, or connect components, parts, finished products, or instruments for testing or operational purposes. | 0.2% |
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · 0.0% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 69,900 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 598,000 → 598,100 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Product Graders and Testers (except Foods and Beverages) · 7543 | 31% | Minimal |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
How people actually apply AI to this occupation's tasks, from Claude.ai (Free and Pro) conversations in the Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15. This is one AI assistant's consumer sample — not all AI, not the whole workforce. Autonomy and the collaboration mix are model-rated estimates; figures below the sample floor are hidden.
| Augmentation vs. automation | 33.3% working with AI · 49.9% handed to AI |
| Most common way people use AI here | Directive · AI does it; you give the instruction |
| Typical AI autonomy | 3.0 / 5 · higher = AI acts more independently |
| Used for work (vs. personal / coursework) | 33.0% |
The role's most common tasks in AI conversations, each tagged with how people work with the AI on it. “Usage” is the share of observed conversations, not of the job.
| Task | How | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Analyze test data, making computations as necessary, to determine test results. | Directive | 2.4% |
| Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers. | Directive | 0.7% |
| Interpret legal requirements, provide safety information, or recommend compliance procedures to contractors, craft workers, engineers, or property owners. | Learning | 0.4% |
Tasks where the model most often judged that a person remained necessary — a useful read on the current boundary, not a guarantee.
| Interpret legal requirements, provide safety information, or recommend compliance procedures to contractors, craft workers, engineers, or property owners. | 100.0% | |
| Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers. | 97.2% | |
| Analyze test data, making computations as necessary, to determine test results. | 85.4% |
Example prompts phrased from the tasks people most often delegate to AI in this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index). Each shows the underlying measured task and its share of observed AI use. They are suggested phrasings of real tasks — starting points, not endorsed instructions.
Help me analyze test data, making computations as necessary, to determine test results. From: Analyze test data, making computations as necessary, to determine test results. · 2.4% of measured AI use · directive
Help me measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers. From: Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers. · 0.7% of measured AI use · directive
Help me interpret legal requirements, provide safety information, or recommend compliance procedures to contractors, craft workers, engineers, or property owners. From: Interpret legal requirements, provide safety information, or recommend compliance procedures to contractors, craft workers, engineers, or property owners. · 0.4% of measured AI use · learning
All 32 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
| Production and Processing | 4.3 | |
| English Language | 3.6 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.4 | |
| Mechanical | 3.2 | |
| Mathematics | 3.1 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.9 |
| Oral Expression | 3.6 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.5 | |
| Near Vision | 3.5 | |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.4 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.3 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.3 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.1 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.1 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.0 | |
| Visualization | 3.0 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.0 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.0 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.0 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.0 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.0 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.0 | |
| Written Expression | 2.9 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 2.9 | |
| Far Vision | 2.9 |
| Writing | 3.3 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Showing the top 40 of 47.
Showing the top 40 of 42.
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
What to study: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 69.8% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 26.9% | |
| Some College Courses | 2.6% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.7% |
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
| Realistic | 5.7 | |
| Conventional | 5.4 | |
| Investigative | 3.4 |
| Engineering | 3.9 | |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 3.8 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 2.5 | |
| Physical/Manual Labor | 2.4 | |
| Construction/Woodwork | 2.2 | |
| Physical Science | 1.9 | |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | 1.7 | |
| Accounting | 1.6 | |
| Information Technology | 1.6 |
| Attention to Detail | 3.0 | |
| Dependability | 3.0 | |
| Cautiousness | 2.5 | |
| Integrity | 2.0 |
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $34,590 |
| 25th percentile | $38,740 |
| Median (50th) | $47,460 |
| 75th percentile | $59,970 |
| 90th percentile | $75,510 |
| People employed | 591,180 |
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing · Sector | 377,260 | $48,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 51,330 | $37,560 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 49,950 | $50,300 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 35,390 | $46,400 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 33,230 | $36,690 |
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 23,200 | $48,620 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services · National industry | 22,410 | $48,710 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 9,870 | $41,260 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 9,080 | $37,430 |
| Machine Shops · National industry | 8,710 | $52,460 |
| Construction · Sector | 6,450 | $58,930 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 5,650 | $54,520 |
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Testing Laboratories and Services · National industry | 34.3× | 22,410 |
| Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing · National industry | 21.34× | 1,630 |
| Machine Shops · National industry | 8.75× | 8,710 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 7.71× | 377,260 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 3.27× | 33,230 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 2.57× | 5,650 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting · Sector | 1.73× | 2,810 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 1.53× | 35,390 |
Part of the Advanced Manufacturing career cluster.
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
Options the data surfaces for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
How people typically prepare for this work.
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 58th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers show 39th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 69,900 annual U.S. openings
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers show 39th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 69,900 annual U.S. openings • Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers rank in the 39th percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 69,900 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (0%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $47,460, across about 591,180 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) • Of the AI use actually observed for this work, 33% looks like augmentation (drafting, iterating, checking) rather than hands-off automation — from a Claude.ai usage sample, not a census. (2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2) Source: Singulariki — "Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-9061-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
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Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Singulariki. "Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-9061-00
Singulariki. (2026). Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-9061-00
@misc{singulariki-role-51-9061-00,
title = {Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-9061-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.