Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary in California
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in California earn a median of $54,300 a year ($26.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 61,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,210 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $48,570. California ranks 15th of 51 states for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers pay. There are 3.4 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $59,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| 25th percentile | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| Median | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| 75th percentile | $68,580 | $32.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,210 | $42.41 |
| Average (mean) | $59,540 | $28.63 |
Half of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,525 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,262.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,088.46 |
| Weekly | $1,044.23 |
| Hourly | $26.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,300 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $62,480 | 170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,340 | 6,860 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,610 | 5,080 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $59,550 | 5,950 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $57,840 | 260 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $56,890 | 570 |
| Vallejo, CA | $55,700 | 570 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $54,450 | 1,980 |
| Modesto, CA | $53,560 | 720 |
| Redding, CA | $51,690 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $51,560 | 22,610 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $51,520 | 480 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $51,240 | 1,320 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $51,210 | 260 |
| Merced, CA | $49,940 | 220 |
| Yuba City, CA | $49,600 | 100 |
| Napa, CA | $49,400 | 180 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $48,020 | 1,340 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,140 | 5,870 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,710 | 1,110 |
| El Centro, CA | $46,130 | 110 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,030 | 480 |
| Chico, CA | $44,680 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $44,550 | 1,170 |
| Salinas, CA | $44,500 | 450 |
Highest-paying states for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $78,150 |
| Washington | $64,420 |
| Maryland | $61,790 |
| Hawaii | $59,740 |
| District of Columbia | $59,730 |
| Colorado | $58,350 |
| Montana | $58,070 |
| Wyoming | $57,900 |
| Delaware | $57,190 |
| Minnesota | $57,170 |
See Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,910 | $25.44 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,950 | $25.46 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,640 | $24.34 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $47,410 | $22.80 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $49,190 | $23.65 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,110 | $22.17 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers make in California?
The median salary for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in California is $54,300 a year, or $26.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers make in California?
The top 10% of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in California earn at least $88,210 a year. The top 25% earn $68,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,750 a year, and a quarter of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn $45,630 or less.
How many inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers work in California?
About 61,130 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.