Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9061.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.032
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.31
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 14 hidden tasks32 rated tasks · 18 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (56.3%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Record inspection or test data, such as weights, temperatures, grades, or moisture content, and quantities inspected or graded.O*NET Task ID 12477 | 1.0 |
Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.O*NET Task ID 12478 | 1.0 |
Analyze test data, making computations as necessary, to determine test results.O*NET Task ID 12481 | 1.0 |
Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.O*NET Task ID 12485 | 1.0 |
Read blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required.O*NET Task ID 20298 | 1.0 |
Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.O*NET Task ID 20299 | 1.0 |
Compute defect percentages or averages, using formulas and calculators.O*NET Task ID 20303 | 1.0 |
Compute usable amounts of items in shipments.O*NET Task ID 20308 | 1.0 |
Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.O*NET Task ID 12474 | 0.5 |
Compare colors, shapes, textures, or grades of products or materials with color charts, templates, or samples to verify conformance to standards.O*NET Task ID 12484 | 0.5 |
Read dials or meters to verify that equipment is functioning at specified levels.O*NET Task ID 12486 | 0.5 |
Grade, classify, or sort products according to sizes, weights, colors, or other specifications.O*NET Task ID 12493 | 0.5 |
Interpret legal requirements, provide safety information, or recommend compliance procedures to contractors, craft workers, engineers, or property owners.O*NET Task ID 12497 | 0.5 |
Recommend necessary corrective actions, based on inspection results.O*NET Task ID 20300 | 0.5 |
Check arriving materials to ensure that they match purchase orders, submitting discrepancy reports as necessary.O*NET Task ID 20302 | 0.5 |
Monitor production operations or equipment to ensure conformance to specifications, making necessary process or assembly adjustments.O*NET Task ID 20306 | 0.5 |
Monitor machines that automatically measure, sort, or inspect products.O*NET Task ID 20307 | 0.5 |
Administer tests to assess whether engineers or operators are qualified to use equipment.O*NET Task ID 20311 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (31)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications. | Core |
| Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications. | Core |
| Record inspection or test data, such as weights, temperatures, grades, or moisture content, and quantities inspected or graded. | Core |
| Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status. | Core |
| Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers. | Core |
| Collect or select samples for testing or for use as models. | Core |
| Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs. | Core |
| Read dials or meters to verify that equipment is functioning at specified levels. | Core |
| Remove defects, such as chips, burrs, or lap corroded or pitted surfaces. | Core |
| Make minor adjustments to equipment, such as turning setscrews to calibrate instruments to required tolerances. | Core |
| Read blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required. | Core |
| Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems. | Core |
| Recommend necessary corrective actions, based on inspection results. | Core |
| Position products, components, or parts for testing. | Core |
| Stack or arrange tested products for further processing, shipping, or packaging. | Core |
| Monitor production operations or equipment to ensure conformance to specifications, making necessary process or assembly adjustments. | Core |
| Analyze test data, making computations as necessary, to determine test results. | Supplemental |
| Compare colors, shapes, textures, or grades of products or materials with color charts, templates, or samples to verify conformance to standards. | Supplemental |
| Adjust, clean, or repair products or processing equipment to correct defects found during inspections. | Supplemental |
| Fabricate, install, position, or connect components, parts, finished products, or instruments for testing or operational purposes. | Supplemental |
| Grade, classify, or sort products according to sizes, weights, colors, or other specifications. | Supplemental |
| Interpret legal requirements, provide safety information, or recommend compliance procedures to contractors, craft workers, engineers, or property owners. | Supplemental |
| Inspect or test raw materials, parts, or products to determine compliance with environmental standards. | Supplemental |
| Clean, maintain, calibrate, or repair measuring instruments or test equipment, such as dial indicators, fixed gauges, or height gauges. | Supplemental |
| Check arriving materials to ensure that they match purchase orders, submitting discrepancy reports as necessary. | Supplemental |
| Compute defect percentages or averages, using formulas and calculators. | Supplemental |
| Monitor machines that automatically measure, sort, or inspect products. | Supplemental |
| Compute usable amounts of items in shipments. | Supplemental |
| Weigh materials, products, containers, or samples to verify packaging weights or ingredient quantities. | Supplemental |
| Disassemble defective parts or components, such as inaccurate or worn gauges or measuring instruments. | Supplemental |
| Administer tests to assess whether engineers or operators are qualified to use equipment. | Supplemental |
0.75/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Collect or select samples for testing or for use as models. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove defects, such as chips, burrs, or lap corroded or pitted surfaces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Make minor adjustments to equipment, such as turning setscrews to calibrate instruments to required tolerances. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position products, components, or parts for testing. | E2 structured facilities |
| Stack or arrange tested products for further processing, shipping, or packaging. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor production operations or equipment to ensure conformance to specifications, making necessary process or assembly adjustments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Compare colors, shapes, textures, or grades of products or materials with color charts, templates, or samples to verify conformance to standards. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Adjust, clean, or repair products or processing equipment to correct defects found during inspections. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Fabricate, install, position, or connect components, parts, finished products, or instruments for testing or operational purposes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Grade, classify, or sort products according to sizes, weights, colors, or other specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect or test raw materials, parts, or products to determine compliance with environmental standards. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean, maintain, calibrate, or repair measuring instruments or test equipment, such as dial indicators, fixed gauges, or height gauges. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Check arriving materials to ensure that they match purchase orders, submitting discrepancy reports as necessary. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor machines that automatically measure, sort, or inspect products. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Compute usable amounts of items in shipments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Weigh materials, products, containers, or samples to verify packaging weights or ingredient quantities. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Disassemble defective parts or components, such as inaccurate or worn gauges or measuring instruments. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 602K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 617K
- Change (2025–35)
- +2.5%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $48,570
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93093 | 제품 단순 선별원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 32122 | 품질관리 사무원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 72195 | 섬유 및 펠트 관련 선별원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 83219 | 그 외 화학제품 생산기 조작원 | Related, not a match | reviewed |
| 83229 | 그 외 타이어 및 고무제품 생산기 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7543Product Graders and Testers (except Foods and Beverages)
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- battery test technicianESCO 7543.3This occupation is broader
Battery test technicians use positive and negative wired plugs to test battery's resistance capacity. They also test rejected batteries to determine their flaws.
- cigar inspectorESCO 7543.10.1This occupation is broader
Cigar inspectors test, sort, sample and weigh cigars in order to find defects and deviations away from the product's specifications.
- clothing quality inspectorESCO 7543.10.2This occupation is broader
Clothing quality inspectors inspect manufactured components, ready-made garments in order to ensure compliance with quality standards and to identify defects or deviations from specifications and in order to classify them according to their quality. They inspect, test products, parts and materials for conformity with specifications and standards. They ensure all work produced meets or exceeds the department's quality standards.
- electrical equipment inspectorESCO 7543.7.3This occupation is broader
Electrical equipment inspectors check finished electrical products for physical defects and faulty electrical connections. They record inspection results and send faulty assemblies back to production.
- footwear quality controllerESCO 7543.9.1This occupation is broader
Footwear quality controllers perform visual analysis of the aspects of footwear, raw material and components applying criteria previously defined and decide on rejections or acceptances. They analyse collected data, prepare reports and deliver them to quality management. They apply previously defined quality management tools aiming at the better achievement of the objectives stated in the quality policy. They participate in monitoring and control of the quality system and in the implementation of corrective and preventive measures.
- leather goods quality controllerESCO 7543.9.2This occupation is broader
Leather goods quality controllers perform activities of analysis of visual aspects of the leather goods regarding appearance, robustness, absence of wrinkles, straightness of seams and overall aspects such as cleanliness, colour uniformity, compared to the specifications. They also perform expedite tests.
- leather sorterESCO 7535.1This occupation is broader
Leather sorters inspect and classify leather during and at the end of the production process according to the qualitative features, destinations of use and customer requirements. They work in the tannery and in the warehouses checking the quality, colour, size, thickness, softness and natural defects.
- metal product quality control inspectorESCO 7543.9.3This occupation is broader
Metal product quality control inspectors perform preventive and operational quality control on the metal products. They examine the materials at various stages to make sure it conforms to the desired standard, test the products, and send them back for repair if necessary.
- product assembly inspectorESCO 7543.7This occupation is broader
Product assembly inspectors evaluate products for compliance with specifications and defects in-line with clients' requirements and organisational policies. They use measuring and testing equipment to ensure conformity to engineering and manufacturing specifications, quality, and safety standards and regulations. They also provide detailed inspection documentation and recommend action where problems are discovered.
- textile quality inspectorESCO 7543.10.4This occupation is broader
Textile quality inspectors ensure that the manufactured of textile products is compliant with predetermined specifications.
- product graderESCO 7543.8Overlapping, not the same
Product graders perform preventive and operational quality control on products and rescources. They inspect, grade and evaluate the materials at various stages to make sure it conforms to the desired standard, and send the product back for repair or improvement if necessary. They work in companies and industrial facilities to ensure the produced commodities achieve quality standards.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| E1310 | Contrôleur / Contrôleuse qualité en industrie graphique | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H1504 | Contrôleur / Contrôleuse technique en électricité-électronique | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H1506 | Contrôleur / Contrôleuse technique en métallurgie | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2415 | Contrôleur / Contrôleuse en industrie textile | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H1528 | Technicien / Technicienne qualité en industrie | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| M1421 | Panéliste | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7893 | Clasificadores y probadores de productos (excepto alimentos, bebidas y tabaco) | Same scopeprovisional |
| 3160 | Técnicos de control de calidad de las ciencias físicas, químicas y de las ingenierías | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 27312 | Berufe in der technischen Qualitätssicherung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Same scope |
| 27313 | Berufe in der technischen Qualitätssicherung - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 29152 | Nahrungsmittel- und Getränkekoster/innen - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 561 | 金属材料検査従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 562 | 金属加工・溶接・溶断検査従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 571 | 化学製品検査従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 578 | ゴム・プラスチック製品検査従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 581 | はん用・生産用・業務用機械器具検査従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 582 | 電気機械器具検査従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 583 | 自動車検査従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 585 | 計量計測機器・光学機械器具検査従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 574 | 飲料・たばこ検査従事者 | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 575 | 紡織・衣服・繊維製品検査従事者 | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 577 | 印刷・製本検査従事者 | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 579 | その他の製品検査従事者（金属製品を除く） | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 572 | 窯業・土石製品検査従事者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources