SOC 51-9061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · 10 metro areas compared
At $45,400, median pay for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Detroit, MI tracks the national median of $48,570 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $45,400, median pay for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Detroit, MI tracks the national median of $48,570 closely. Pay ranges from under $34,240 at the tenth percentile to more than $69,770 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,350 to $56,490.
The area has 10,610 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.45 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Muskegon records the highest median at $58,850. Of the 671 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 524th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,240 | −29.5% |
| 25th | $37,350 | −23.1% |
| Median (50th) | $45,400 | −6.5% |
| 75th | $56,490 | +16.3% |
| 90th | $69,770 | +43.6% |
| Mean | $48,580 | +0.0% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muskegon | $58,850 | 740 | |
| 2 | Battle Creek | $48,440 | 360 | |
| 3 | Lansing | $47,880 | 770 | |
| 4 | Saginaw | $47,780 | 350 | |
| 5 | Kalamazoo | $47,440 | 880 | |
| 6 | Ann Arbor | $46,060 | 800 | |
| 7 | Bay City | $45,910 | 120 | |
| 8 | Jackson | $45,460 | 500 | |
| 9 | Traverse City | $44,190 | 220 | |
| 10 | Niles | $43,870 | 370 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $45,400 goes as far as $47,193 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,193US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,400 a year, 6.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,240 to $69,770 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 10,610 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Muskegon, at $58,850.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $45,400, or $21.83 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 Detroit, MI is 6.5% lower. 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 Detroit, MI earns more than $69,770 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,240 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 Muskegon, at $58,850 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 10,610 jobs in this occupation in Detroit, MI. 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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