How to become a routine inspector or tester
Official title: Routine inspectors and testers
Also called: Tester, Inspector, Can tester, Dye tester, Egg tester, Ndt tester, Pat tester, Cask tester, Cell tester, Coil tester, Coke tester, Gear tester
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.
Main tasks
- Examines articles for surface flaws such as cracks, dents, defective sealing or broken wires by visual inspection or using aids such as microscopes or magnifying glasses
- Checks sequence of assembly operations and checks assemblies and sub-assemblies against parts lists to detect missing items
- Sets up test equipment, connects items/system to power source/pressure outlet, etc. and operates controls to check performance and operation of electrical plant and machinery and electronics systems
- Examines yarn packages, textile fabrics and garments, wood or wood products, paper and paperboard, plastics and rubber materials, food products, food storage containers, etc., checks specifications, marks any repairable defects and rejects faulty items
- Reports any recurrent or major defects and recommends improvements to production methods
How to become one
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.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Mineral and construction product sampling and testing operations (level 2). England. Typically 14 months. Skills England standard ST0511.
- Apprenticeship (England): Non-destructive testing (NDT) operator (level 2). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0358.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £34,360 a year The middle half earn £28,338 to £43,307.
- About 83,400 people work in this job now, and about 82,100 are projected by 2035. (-1.6%)
Related jobs
- Assemblers (electrical and electronic products)
- Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods)
- Weighers, graders and sorters
- Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters
- Sewing machinists
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Questions people ask
How do I become a routine inspector or tester?
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.
How much does a routine inspector or tester earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £34,360 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £28,338 to £43,307.
Is a routine inspector or tester a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 83,400 people now and 82,100 later (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a routine inspector or tester?
Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Mineral and construction product sampling and testing operations (level 2).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03