SOC 51-9061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — Missouri
Missouri · 8 metro areas compared
In Missouri the median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers is $54,420 a year, which is 12.0% higher than the national figure of $48,570.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Missouri the median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers is $54,420 a year, which is 12.0% higher than the national figure of $48,570. Half of workers earn between $45,630 and $75,140. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $36,630 and the ninetieth at $78,410.
The area has 12,480 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.11 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Missouri ranks 14th by median wage. Kansas City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,000. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 399th of 733 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,630 | −24.6% |
| 25th | $45,630 | −6.1% |
| Median (50th) | $54,420 | +12.0% |
| 75th | $75,140 | +54.7% |
| 90th | $78,410 | +61.4% |
| Mean | $57,510 | +18.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $63,000 | 5,210 | |
| 2 | Cape Girardeau | $57,140 | 220 | |
| 3 | Columbia | $52,810 | 260 | |
| 4 | St. Louis | $51,790 | 5,540 | |
| 5 | Jefferson City | $49,450 | 220 | |
| 6 | St. Joseph | $49,370 | 340 | |
| 7 | Springfield | $48,620 | 800 | |
| 8 | Joplin | $47,960 | 620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $54,420 goes as far as $59,934 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 23.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,420as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$59,934US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,420 a year, 12.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,630 to $78,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 12,480 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 14th of 51 states for 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 Missouri?
The median annual wage is $54,420, or $26.17 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 Missouri is 12.0% 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 Missouri earns more than $78,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,630 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 12,480 jobs in this occupation in Missouri. 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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