Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary in Columbia, SC
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $48,310 a year ($23.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,680 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,040 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $48,570. Pay here is 3% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $46,890. There are 4.3 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $50,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| 25th percentile | $39,340 | $18.91 |
| Median | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| 75th percentile | $58,490 | $28.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,040 | $34.15 |
| Average (mean) | $50,640 | $24.34 |
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 | $4,025.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,012.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,858.08 |
| Weekly | $929.04 |
| Hourly | $23.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,310 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $50,470 | 1,060 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $49,960 | 1,060 |
| Sumter, SC | $49,250 | 270 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $49,160 | 1,530 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $47,670 | 5,060 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $47,470 | 3,480 |
| Florence, SC | $47,280 | 380 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $42,640 | 120 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $42,620 | 220 |
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 or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,010 | $24.53 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,430 | $24.24 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,320 | $23.71 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,760 | $22.96 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $44,790 | $21.53 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $34,140 | $16.42 |
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $48,310 a year, or $23.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $71,040 a year. The top 25% earn $58,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,250 a year, and a quarter of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn $39,340 or less.
How many inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers work in Columbia, SC?
About 1,680 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.