Quality Control Inspector

O*NET: Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers·51-9061.00

The Verdict:Quality control work demands hands-on gauging, defect removal, and on-site adjustments amid variable factory conditions. Vision systems automate simple visual checks, but nuanced tactile verification and process tweaks require human presence. AI aids data tasks, reshaping the role without full displacement in the next decade.

Resilience Score

/100

Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$47k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 4 of 31 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

13%

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
20 of 31 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 23% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

4exposed

7AI leverage

20human-essential

View all 31 tasks

AI Can Handle This4 tasks

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Record inspection or test data, such as weights, temperatures, grades, or moisture content, and quantities inspected or graded.

Analyze test data, making computations as necessary, to determine test results.

Compute usable amounts of items in shipments.

Compute defect percentages or averages, using formulas and calculators.

AI Leverage7 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.

Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.

Recommend necessary corrective actions, based on inspection results.

Read blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required.

Check arriving materials to ensure that they match purchase orders, submitting discrepancy reports as necessary.

Monitor machines that automatically measure, sort, or inspect products.

Interpret legal requirements, provide safety information, or recommend compliance procedures to contractors, craft workers, engineers, or property owners.

Human Advantage20 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.

Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.

Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.

Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.

Read dials or meters to verify that equipment is functioning at specified levels.

Make minor adjustments to equipment, such as turning setscrews to calibrate instruments to required tolerances.

Monitor production operations or equipment to ensure conformance to specifications, making necessary process or assembly adjustments.

Position products, components, or parts for testing.

Remove defects, such as chips, burrs, or lap corroded or pitted surfaces.

Collect or select samples for testing or for use as models.

Stack or arrange tested products for further processing, shipping, or packaging.

Inspect or test raw materials, parts, or products to determine compliance with environmental standards.

Compare colors, shapes, textures, or grades of products or materials with color charts, templates, or samples to verify conformance to standards.

Clean, maintain, calibrate, or repair measuring instruments or test equipment, such as dial indicators, fixed gauges, or height gauges.

Fabricate, install, position, or connect components, parts, finished products, or instruments for testing or operational purposes.

Administer tests to assess whether engineers or operators are qualified to use equipment.

Adjust, clean, or repair products or processing equipment to correct defects found during inspections.

Grade, classify, or sort products according to sizes, weights, colors, or other specifications.

Disassemble defective parts or components, such as inaccurate or worn gauges or measuring instruments.

Weigh materials, products, containers, or samples to verify packaging weights or ingredient quantities.

Resilience Landscape

Quality Control Inspector lands in Stable, Lower Pay

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