Salary guide, May 2025
Quality Inspector pay in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL was $47,180 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $38,420 and $57,620.
The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL median is $1,390 below the national median of $48,570, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Quality 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 tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33,870 | $38,420 | $47,180 | $57,620 | $70,550 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $16.28 | $18.47 | $22.68 | $27.70 | $33.92 |
BLS estimated 3,760 workers employed in this occupation in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. Location quotient: 0.68.
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 role pay against all occupations here?
The published Quality Inspector median is $47,180. The all-occupations median in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is $48,940. Ratio: 0.96 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.68 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $38,070 | $45,710 | $52,910 |
| May 2025 | $38,420 | $47,180 | $57,620 |
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, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $54,120 | $43,890 to $77,630 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $46,090 | $37,650 to $56,860 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL area, the Quality Inspector role, classified under SOC 51-9061, reports a median annual wage of $47,180. For Quality Inspector in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $47,180; the May 2024 median is $45,710. Their arithmetic difference is $1,470.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle band width for this region is $19,200, spanning from the 25th percentile of $38,420 to the 75th percentile of $57,620. These figures are restricted to direct annual salary and do not include the additional pay components or employer-subsidized benefits typical in technical manufacturing environments.
National manufacturing industries demonstrate the salary premiums associated with specific sectors. Nationally, the Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing industry median is $74,450, while Motor Vehicle Manufacturing is $73,310 and Ship and Boat Building is $64,560. These figures illustrate higher compensation levels than the broader national occupational median of $48,570. Currently, the Tampa median of $47,180 remains below the overall national occupational median, suggesting a competitive spread when recruiting against high-specialization national peers.
Data for surrounding markets provides further insight into regional pay tiers. The Wildwood-The Villages, FL area reports a median of $54,120 with a notably larger middle band width of $33,740. Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL lists a median of $46,090 and a middle band width of $19,210. Tampa exhibits a location quotient of 0.68, indicating the density of this workforce. Per the May 2025 data, these figures serve as general benchmarks. Because the BLS aggregates all plant-floor inspectors and testers into one broad SOC, managers should weigh these averages against the specific, documented duties required for their local site operations.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
The Tampa median of $47,180 is lower than the broader national occupational median of $48,570. For Quality Inspector in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $47,180; the May 2024 median is $45,710. Their arithmetic difference is $1,470.
Is the middle band width a indicator of total hiring costs?
No, the $19,200 middle band width simply denotes the pay range of the middle 50% of the sample. It does not account for total compensation packages or individual applicant experience levels.
How does Tampa compare to the national occupational median?
The Tampa median of $47,180 is lower than the broader national occupational median of $48,570. For Quality Inspector in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $47,180; the May 2024 median is $45,710. Their arithmetic difference is $1,470. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
Can I estimate salary for a specific seniority level using this data?
The data does not support separating individual seniority, experience, or shift-based pay. It provides an aggregate look at all workers under SOC 51-9061, which includes varied roles like weighers and sorters.
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