Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary in South Dakota
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in South Dakota earn a median of $47,240 a year ($22.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,070 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $48,570. South Dakota ranks 38th of 51 states for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers pay. There are 2.4 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $49,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,930 | $18.24 |
| 25th percentile | $42,600 | $20.48 |
| Median | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| 75th percentile | $54,630 | $26.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,070 | $30.80 |
| Average (mean) | $49,990 | $24.03 |
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 | $3,936.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,968.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,816.92 |
| Weekly | $908.46 |
| Hourly | $22.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,240 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Dakota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers salary in cities in South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $54,800 | 410 |
| Rapid City, SD | $48,310 | 70 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $44,670 | 500 |
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.
Related jobs in South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,860 | $21.09 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,980 | $21.63 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,780 | $24.41 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $48,830 | $23.48 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,910 | $22.55 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,330 | $23.24 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $45,110 | $21.69 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $66,650 | $32.04 |
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 South Dakota?
The median salary for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in South Dakota is $47,240 a year, or $22.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in South Dakota earn at least $64,070 a year. The top 25% earn $54,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,930 a year, and a quarter of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn $42,600 or less.
How many inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers work in South Dakota?
About 1,090 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.