SOC 51-9061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — Columbia
Columbia, MO · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Columbia, MO is $52,810 per year, 8.7% above the national median of $48,570.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Columbia, MO is $52,810 per year, 8.7% above the national median of $48,570. Half of workers earn between $47,510 and $60,070. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $36,710 and the ninetieth at $67,010.
The area has 260 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.4 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Kansas City records the highest median at $63,000. Of the 336 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 175th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,710 | −24.4% |
| 25th | $47,510 | −2.2% |
| Median (50th) | $52,810 | +8.7% |
| 75th | $60,070 | +23.7% |
| 90th | $67,010 | +38.0% |
| Mean | $54,040 | +11.3% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $63,000 | 5,210 | |
| 2 | Cape Girardeau | $57,140 | 220 | |
| 3 | St. Louis | $51,790 | 5,540 | |
| 4 | Jefferson City | $49,450 | 220 | |
| 5 | St. Joseph | $49,370 | 340 | |
| 6 | Springfield | $48,620 | 800 | |
| 7 | Joplin | $47,960 | 620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbia run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $52,810 goes as far as $58,161 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 19.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$52,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,161US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $52,810 a year, 8.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,710 to $67,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 260 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kansas City, at $63,000.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Columbia, MO?
The median annual wage is $52,810, or $25.39 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $48,570, so pay in Columbia, MO is 8.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Columbia, MO earns more than $67,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,710 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kansas City, at $63,000 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 260 jobs in this occupation in Columbia, MO. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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