Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
The short answer
Parts of this job are expected to change. AI can already assist with some of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 2,464 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the middle fifth for how much AI could touch it—right around the middle.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about a quarter of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the middle fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.
AI can help with or automate about 58% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.
AI could do much of this on its own
Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.
AI could do much of this on its own
Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.
AI could do much of this on its own
Recommend necessary corrective actions, based on inspection results.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Tasks AI can't do much of
Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Make minor adjustments to equipment, such as turning setscrews to calibrate instruments to required tolerances.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Inspect or test raw materials, parts, or products to determine compliance with environmental standards.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Clean, maintain, calibrate, or repair measuring instruments or test equipment, such as dial indicators, fixed gauges, or height gauges.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Very similar workslightly less pay360 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$51,031 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Near Vision
- Mechanical
- Quality Control Analysis
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Control Precision
- Equipment Maintenance
- Repairing
- Operations Monitoring
Machinists
Very similar work+22% pay813 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 22% more—$62,314 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Near Vision
- Mathematics
- Problem Sensitivity
- Production and Processing
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Installation
- Equipment Maintenance
- Control Precision
- Rate Control
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Very similar work+4% pay58 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 4% more—$53,272 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Near Vision
- Mechanical
- Oral Expression
- Information Ordering
New skills to build
- Administration and Management
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Very similar work+13% pay35 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 13% more—$57,855 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Near Vision
- Mathematics
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Operations Monitoring
- Reaction Time
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Similar workslightly less pay139 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$50,043 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Quality Control Analysis
- Near Vision
- Mathematics
- English Language
New skills to build
- Reaction Time
- Rate Control
- Repairing
- Response Orientation
- Control Precision
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
Similar workslightly less pay93 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$47,518 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Near Vision
- Quality Control Analysis
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Equipment Maintenance
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
Similar work+103% pay12,479 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 103% more—$104,013 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Oral Expression
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Engineering and Technology
- Public Safety and Security
- Equipment Maintenance
- Building and Construction
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
Similar workslightly less pay232 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$48,083 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Oral Expression
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Somewhat similar work+57% pay96 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 57% more—$80,402 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires an associate's degree.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Oral Expression
- English Language
- Oral Comprehension
- Mechanical
New skills to build
- Engineering and Technology
- Physics
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Science
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
Somewhat similar work+34% pay51 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 34% more—$68,591 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Quality Control Analysis
- Mechanical
- Oral Comprehension
- Production and Processing
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Equipment Selection
- Installation
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
Somewhat similar work+57% pay140 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 57% more—$80,340 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
A step up—usually requires a postsecondary nondegree award, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Production and Processing
- Near Vision
- Quality Control Analysis
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Computers and Electronics
- Equipment Maintenance
- Mechanical
- Troubleshooting
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Somewhat similar work+40% pay4,530 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 40% more—$71,717 vs your $51,130 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Quality Control Analysis
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Critical Thinking
New skills to build
- Repairing
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Reaction Time
- Hearing Sensitivity