Occupation 8143 · Process, plant and machine operatives
Routine inspectors and testers inspect and/or test metal stock, parts and products, electrical plant, machinery and electronic components, systems and sub-assemblies, textiles, wood, paper, food, plastics and rubber goods, parts and materials to detect processing, manufacturing and other defects.
There are no formal academic entry requirements, although some employers require candidates to possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically received on-the-job, supplemented by training courses where instruction in specific techniques is required. Various NVQs/SVQs encompass aspects of quality control.
Quality assurance inspector · Quality auditor · Quality controller · Quality inspector · Test engineer
| Measure | Hours | Basis | Period | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | None | 2026-03 | 44,500.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | None | 2026-03 | 46,800.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | None | 2026-03 | 53,400.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | None | 2026-03 | 1,400.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | None | 2026-03 | 6,500.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | None | 2026-03 | 54,800.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | None | 2026-03 | 2,300.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.
| Region | Measure | Hours | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 6,400.00 | 2026-03 |
| East Midlands | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 6,400.00 | 2026-03 |
| London | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 1,000.00 | 2026-03 |
| North East | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 2,100.00 | 2026-03 |
| North West | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 6,800.00 | 2026-03 |
| Northern Ireland | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 1,400.00 | 2026-03 |
| Scotland | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 6,500.00 | 2026-03 |
| South East | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 3,000.00 | 2026-03 |
| South West | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 5,100.00 | 2026-03 |
| Wales | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 2,300.00 | 2026-03 |
| West Midlands | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 10,700.00 | 2026-03 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 8143 : Routine inspectors and testers | None | 3,100.00 | 2026-03 |
ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 12 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.
Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) · Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) · Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c. · Sewing machinists · Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters · Weighers, graders and sorters