SOC 51-9061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — Southwest Colorado
Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Southwest Colorado, CO comes to $54,180 a year, ahead of the national median of $48,570 by 11.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Southwest Colorado, CO comes to $54,180 a year, ahead of the national median of $48,570 by 11.6%. Pay ranges from under $37,900 at the tenth percentile to more than $81,290 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $45,580 to $71,960.
Employment stands at 60, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Boulder records the highest median at $60,400. Of the 348 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 197th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,900 | −22.0% |
| 25th | $45,580 | −6.2% |
| Median (50th) | $54,180 | +11.6% |
| 75th | $71,960 | +48.2% |
| 90th | $81,290 | +67.4% |
| Mean | $59,440 | +22.4% |
Other metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $60,400 | 790 | |
| 2 | Greeley | $58,960 | 360 | |
| 3 | Pueblo | $58,600 | 200 | |
| 4 | Denver | $58,430 | 2,670 | |
| 5 | Fort Collins | $56,740 | 370 | |
| 6 | Grand Junction | $52,120 | 110 | |
| 7 | Colorado Springs | $51,080 | 450 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $54,180 buys what $52,551 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,180as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,551US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,180 a year, 11.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,900 to $81,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boulder, at $60,400.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Southwest Colorado, CO?
The median annual wage is $54,180, or $26.05 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 Southwest Colorado, CO is 11.6% 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 Southwest Colorado, CO earns more than $81,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,900 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 Boulder, at $60,400 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Colorado, CO. 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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