Salary guide, May 2025
First Article Inspector pay in California
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in California was $54,300 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $45,630 and $68,580.
The California median is $5,730 above the national median of $48,570, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
First Article Inspector is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
What should you know about california?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38,750 | $45,630 | $54,300 | $68,580 | $88,210 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.63 | $21.94 | $26.11 | $32.97 | $42.41 |
BLS estimated 61,130 workers employed in this occupation in California. Location quotient: 0.87.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35,510 | $39,890 | $48,570 | $61,440 | $77,860 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.07 | $19.18 | $23.35 | $29.54 | $37.44 |
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $43,270 | $50,430 | $63,800 |
| May 2025 | $45,630 | $54,300 | $68,580 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, California. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $44,550 | $37,690 to $53,990 |
| Merced, CA | $49,940 | $44,350 to $66,630 |
All roles in California · National page · First Article Inspector ranked across metros