Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss out-earn Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigherss by $26K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigherss land at $48,570 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss at $74,450. The education gap is real: inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weigher programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigherss is Alaska ($78,150); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$48,570
$74,450
Hourly rate
$23.35/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,510
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$77,860
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
597,370
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Alaska
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers median pay.

State
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Alaska
$78,150
$77,960
Washington
$64,420
$79,310
Maryland
$61,790
$78,520
District of Columbia
$59,730
$80,030
Colorado
$58,350
$78,890
Wyoming
$57,900
$90,390
Delaware
$57,190
$79,100
Minnesota
$57,170
$78,550
Connecticut
$57,090
$83,150
Rhode Island
$54,940
$81,650
New Hampshire
$54,800
$79,310
Maine
$53,570
$78,970
Massachusetts
$52,270
$79,920
New York
$49,990
$78,580
New Jersey
$49,140
$81,110

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigherss or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $48,570 for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigherss versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss, a difference of $26K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigherss get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigherss at $78,150/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigherss earn $78,150 vs. $77,960 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigherss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →