Career Trends: Quality Control Inspectors

Quality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.

Working conditions vary by industry, establishment size, and specific duty. Most quality control inspectors work full time during regular business hours. Overtime may be required to meet production deadlines.

Most quality control inspectors need a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training that typically lasts as little as 1 month or up to 1 year.

Employment of quality control inspectors is projected to show little or no change from 2014 to 2024. Job prospects should be best for those who are certified and have related work experience.

This occupation supported 464,300 jobs in 2012 and 496,600 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 7.0%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 5.5% in 2022 to 490,000 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 469,400, compared with an observed value of 496,600, 5.8% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to decrease by 0.2% in 2024 to 495,500 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 495,100 jobs for 2024, 0.1% lower than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation.