Production
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
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, QA Auditor (Quality Assurance Auditor), QA Inspector (Quality Assurance Inspector), QA Technician (Quality Assurance Technician), QC Technician (Quality Control Technician), Quality Auditor
- Median pay in Greater Boston
- $58,210
- $27.99/hr
- Jobs in Greater Boston
- 7,800
- Massachusetts 2024–2034
- +1.2%
- 1,280 openings a year
- Typical U.S. entry requirement
- High school diploma or equivalent
- plus Moderate-term on-the-job training
Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.
Pay range in Greater Boston
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $41,070 | $48,480 | $58,210 | $68,130 | $79,840 |
10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.
What you’d do
- Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
- Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.
- Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.
- Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
- Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.
AI and this job
AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.
Moderate exposure41 of 100
The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:
- AIOE 46
- Language-model AIOE 42
- GPTs-are-GPTs 35
Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)
AI exposure for this job is moderate, and some AI use has been seen. AI tools can help with spotting defects, taking measurements, and sorting or logging items. People are still needed to judge unclear cases, handle materials, and tell supervisors about production problems.
Likely to change
- Spotting defects and sorting parts
- Measuring and logging product dimensions
Still relies on people
- Judging borderline parts and unusual problems
- Alerting supervisors to production problems
Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.
Next steps from here
Related jobs that build on what you already do.
Machinists
Your work with calipers, micrometers, and specifications carries over. Machinists earn a higher Boston median pay of $72,060 with long-term training.
- Pay difference
- +$13,850 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +2.2%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Knowing what meets specifications helps you find machine faults. This move offers $75,200 median pay and 17.1% expected growth, with long-term training.
- Pay difference
- +$16,990 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +17.1%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Semiconductor Processing Technicians
Inspecting for defects and measuring with precision tools carry over directly. This job offers a similar median pay ($59,110) in a technical setting.
- Pay difference
- +$900 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +1.9%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Training near Boston
College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).
No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.
Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.
Related occupations
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
Talk to a career coach
A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.
Talk to a career coach