Quality control inspectors
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Quality control inspectors in the United States earn a median salary of $48,570 per year — about $23 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 598K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of 0%.
AI & Automation Risk
This occupation is a hybrid of physical inspection and data analysis. While AI-powered computer vision systems are rapidly automating the visual detection of defects, the role still requires significant physical presence to handle materials, operate manual gauges, and perform mechanical tests that robots cannot yet fully replicate in diverse manufacturing environments.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MDBEST VALUE | $92,000 | Average (102.7) | $89,563 |
| Savannah, GA | $72,800 | Below avg (95.9) | $75,906 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $63,570 | Below avg (87.1) | $72,998 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $65,840 | Below avg (91.9) | $71,678 |
| Bismarck, ND | $63,910 | Below avg (89.4) | $71,524 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $63,520 | Below avg (88.9) | $71,468 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $62,630 | Below avg (88.0) | $71,153 |
| Wichita, KS | $63,030 | Below avg (89.4) | $70,487 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $60,180 | Below avg (85.9) | $70,051 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $61,230 | Below avg (88.8) | $68,988 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $59,920 | Below avg (87.2) | $68,731 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $76,800 | Above avg (112.7) | $68,127 |
| Farmington, NM | $59,060 | Below avg (87.0) | $67,869 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $63,000 | Below avg (93.2) | $67,594 |
| Ames, IA | $61,820 | Below avg (91.5) | $67,589 |