Quality Inspector salary
Typical pay is $23.35/hr. Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for U.S..
What the range looks like
- 10th percentile Entry level / starting out
- $17.07/hr
- 25th percentile Below typical
- $19.18/hr
- Median Half earn more, half earn less
- $23.35/hr
- 75th percentile Above typical
- $29.54/hr
- 90th percentile Experienced / specialised
- $37.43/hr
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025) — U.S..
See what's hiring now
3 open quality inspectors on LocalWork right now.
What a quality inspector does
Quality inspectors check that products meet specification, using measurement tools and documented procedures. A common step up from production line work.
Day-to-day duties
- Inspect products against specification
- Use precision measuring instruments
- Document results and non-conformances
- Identify and escalate quality trends
- Support corrective action
Skills employers look for
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Precision measurement
- Reading drawings and specifications
- Clear documentation
Requirements
- High school diploma typically
- Measurement and blueprint reading skills
- ASQ certification valued for senior roles
- Manufacturing experience usually preferred
How to get started
- 1 Start in production to learn the product
- 2 Move into inspection
- 3 Learn precision measurement and drawing interpretation
- 4 Add ASQ certification and progress into quality engineering
Job outlook: Steady demand wherever manufacturing operates, with aerospace, medical and automotive paying above general manufacturing.
Common questions about quality inspectors
How much does a quality inspector make?
The median pay for a quality inspector nationally is $23.35 an hour — about $48,570 a year full time. That figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for U.S. (2025). Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.
What is the pay range for quality inspectors?
Most quality inspectors nationally earn between $17.07 an hour and $37.43 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.
How much do entry-level quality inspectors make?
Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $17.07 an hour. A quarter of quality inspectors earn below $19.18 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band.
What do the highest-paid quality inspectors earn?
The top 10% of quality inspectors nationally earn about $37.43 an hour or more, roughly 1.6× the median. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — certifications, supervisory duties, specialised skills or premium shifts.
What does a quality inspector do?
Quality inspectors check that products meet specification, using measurement tools and documented procedures. A common step up from production line work. Day to day, that means inspect products against specification, use precision measuring instruments, document results and non-conformances and identify and escalate quality trends.
How do you become a quality inspector?
The usual route is: (1) start in production to learn the product, (2) move into inspection, (3) learn precision measurement and drawing interpretation, (4) add ASQ certification and progress into quality engineering. Employers typically look for high school diploma typically, measurement and blueprint reading skills and ASQ certification valued for senior roles.
Do you need a certification to work as a quality inspector?
Usually not. Most employers hire quality inspectors without a specific licence, though ASQ certification valued for senior roles will widen your options and often your pay.
Are quality inspectors in demand?
There are currently 3 open quality inspectors listed on LocalWork. Steady demand wherever manufacturing operates, with aerospace, medical and automotive paying above general manufacturing.
Where are quality inspectors most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
Similar roles
Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.