How to become an inspector or tester
Official title: Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing
Also called: Glass tester, Glass inspector, Fibreglass tester, Foundry sand tester, Abrasive wheel tester, Brick and tile tester, Core tester - foundry, Cement plant inspector, Glass container tester, Salvage glass inspector, Wire products inspector, Brick and tile inspector
Inspectors and testers in mineral and metal processing inspect, grade, sample or test raw materials and products from mineral ore and metal processing operations. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries, cement processing plants, clay, glass and stone processing plants and foundries.
Main tasks
- Inspect mineral ore, metal, cement, glass, clay or concrete products at various stages of processing to ensure adherence to specifications
- Grade and label raw materials or finished products according to size, thickness, composition or other classification standards
- Take samples of products during or after processing operation for routine analysis or for subsequent laboratory analysis
- Test product for strength, density, durability and conformance to specifications
- Advise supervisor or central control operator and process machine operators of problems and product deficiencies
- Complete inspection and test reports
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Experience as a machine or process operator in mineral and metal processing is usually required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $51,168 a year The middle half earn $42,900 to $64,350.
- About 4,300 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 4,100 are projected by 2033. (-4.7%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
- Foundry workers
- Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters
- Concrete, clay and stone forming operators
- Metalworking and forging machine operators
- Machining tool operators
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Questions people ask
How do I become an inspector or tester?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Experience as a machine or process operator in mineral and metal processing is usually required.
How much does an inspector or tester earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $51,168 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $42,900 to $64,350.
Is an inspector or tester a growing career in Canada?
Employment is projected to fall 5% by 2033, from about 4,300 to about 4,100 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an inspector or tester?
Usually not. Only 17% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03