Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary in Ames, IA
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $61,820 a year ($29.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,010 for the top 10%. That is 27% higher than the national median of $48,570. Pay here is 22% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $50,740. There are 4.3 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $59,990, close to the median.
Pay range for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| 25th percentile | $49,470 | $23.78 |
| Median | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| 75th percentile | $64,980 | $31.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,010 | $37.99 |
| Average (mean) | $59,990 | $28.84 |
Half of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,151.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,575.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,377.69 |
| Weekly | $1,188.85 |
| Hourly | $29.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $54,800 | 410 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $51,250 | 660 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $51,190 | 1,100 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $50,850 | 1,220 |
| Dubuque, IA | $49,800 | 260 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $49,420 | 650 |
| Iowa City, IA | $49,270 | 200 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $49,030 | 990 |
Highest-paying states for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $78,150 |
| Washington | $64,420 |
| Maryland | $61,790 |
| Hawaii | $59,740 |
| District of Columbia | $59,730 |
| Colorado | $58,350 |
| Montana | $58,070 |
| Wyoming | $57,900 |
| Delaware | $57,190 |
| Minnesota | $57,170 |
See Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,020 | $25.01 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $70,690 | $33.99 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $69,090 | $33.22 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,070 | $18.79 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,160 | $35.65 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,560 | $28.15 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| Printing Press Operator | $46,850 | $22.52 |
| Food Batchmaker | $50,950 | $24.50 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers make in Ames, IA?
The median salary for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in the Ames, IA metro area is $61,820 a year, or $29.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $79,010 a year. The top 25% earn $64,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,100 a year, and a quarter of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn $49,470 or less.
How many inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers work in Ames, IA?
About 240 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.