An industrial inspector is also known as a quality assurance inspector, and is hired by various companies (most commonly manufacturers) for the purpose of quality inspection. This often involves a thorough list of checks and procedures that need to be performed on a product before it’s deemed safe and functional, and the process usually ends with the inspector placing a stamp or some other mark on the product to indicate that it’s gone through them and they’ve personally verified its quality. Industrial inspectors may sometimes work in teams, each one tasked with a different aspect of the product.
A degree in engineering – even a Bachelor’s – is normally enough to get hired as an industrial inspector. Particular knowledge in the field that the company specializes in could definitely be of benefit in many cases, but isn’t usually a strict requirement. An investigative nature and the ability to seek out problems in a systematized manner are very important for becoming a good industry inspector.
An industrial inspector’s salary can vary from company to company, as the specific duties involved in the job can change a lot. Typically, the salary will be somewhere between $31,000 – $50,000, and some companies can pay some substantial bonuses for extra performance by practitioners. In some cases, one’s salary can be directly tied to their performance, and since there are various ways to judge that, the salary can vary quite a lot as well.