SOC 51-9061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — Rochester
Rochester, MN · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Rochester, MN comes to $59,850 a year, ahead of the national median of $48,570 by 23.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Rochester, MN comes to $59,850 a year, ahead of the national median of $48,570 by 23.2%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $48,410 and $63,770. The lowest tenth earn under $44,450, while the highest tenth earn more than $77,030.
Employment stands at 150, or 1.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Duluth leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $59,920. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 185th of 312 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,450 | −8.5% |
| 25th | $48,410 | −0.3% |
| Median (50th) | $59,850 | +23.2% |
| 75th | $63,770 | +31.3% |
| 90th | $77,030 | +58.6% |
| Mean | $59,170 | +21.8% |
Other metro areas in Minnesota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duluth | $59,920 | 260 | |
| 2 | Minneapolis | $58,900 | 6,300 | |
| 3 | Mankato | $51,910 | 240 | |
| 4 | St. Cloud | $50,450 | 360 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rochester sit close to the national average, so $59,850 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$59,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,700US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,850 a year, 23.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,450 to $77,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 150 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Duluth, at $59,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Rochester, MN?
The median annual wage is $59,850, or $28.78 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 Rochester, MN is 23.2% 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 Rochester, MN earns more than $77,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,450 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 Duluth, at $59,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 150 jobs in this occupation in Rochester, MN. 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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