Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Salary
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Montana make a median of $58,070 a year, or about $27.92 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $59,866 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 29.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Montana?
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $49K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $62K | +7% | 70 |
| Helena | $60K | +4% | 50 |
| Great Falls | $60K | +3% | 40 |
| Billings | $60K | +3% | 120 |
| Missoula | $54K | -8% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weigher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,248/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weigher a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $58K here vs. $49K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers?
Montana pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers make in Montana?
The median is $58,070 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,470, and experienced inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers can clear $101,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,865/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 29.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers salary is worth about $59,866 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.