Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $50,850 a year ($24.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,240 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $48,570. Pay here is about the same as the Iowa statewide median of $50,740. There are 3.0 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $52,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,960 | $17.29 |
| 25th percentile | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Median | $50,850 | $24.45 |
| 75th percentile | $59,500 | $28.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Average (mean) | $52,360 | $25.17 |
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 | $4,237.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,118.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,955.77 |
| Weekly | $977.88 |
| Hourly | $24.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,850 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | $61,820 | 240 |
| 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 |
| 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,660 | $19.55 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,170 | $26.52 |
| Tire Builder | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $52,050 | $25.02 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,920 | $25.44 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,470 | $24.27 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $59,230 | $28.47 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,160 | $26.52 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,560 | $25.27 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $67,650 | $32.53 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $50,850 a year, or $24.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $71,240 a year. The top 25% earn $59,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,960 a year, and a quarter of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn $41,600 or less.
How many inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 1,220 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.