Inspector demographics and statistics in the US
Inspector demographics research summary. Zippia estimates inspector demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our inspector estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about inspectors after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 438,492 inspectors currently employed in the United States.
- 38.3% of all inspectors are women, while 61.7% are men.
- The average inspector age is 45 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of inspectors is White (56.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.2%), Black or African American (11.9%) and Asian (8.1%).
- Inspectors are most in-demand in Houston, TX.
- The automotive industry is the highest-paying for inspectors.
- Vancouver, WA pays an annual average wage of $46,655, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women inspectors earned 89% of what men earned.
- 4% of all inspectors are LGBT.
- Louisiana is the best state for inspectors to live.
- Inspectors are 63% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Inspector demographics by:
Inspector gender statistics
38.3% of inspectors are women and 61.7% of inspectors are men.
- Male, 61.7%
- Female, 38.3%
Inspector gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 61.7% |
| Female | 38.3% |
Inspector gender pay gap
Women earn 89¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$43,628
Female income
$39,007
Inspector gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in inspector positions over time. Currently, 38.3% of inspectors are female.
Inspector gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 60.30% | 39.70% |
| 2011 | 60.08% | 39.92% |
| 2012 | 61.28% | 38.72% |
| 2013 | 62.31% | 37.69% |
| 2014 | 62.25% | 37.75% |
| 2015 | 63.29% | 36.71% |
| 2016 | 62.33% | 37.67% |
| 2017 | 62.22% | 37.78% |
| 2018 | 62.96% | 37.04% |
| 2019 | 62.50% | 37.50% |
| 2020 | 61.52% | 38.48% |
| 2021 | 61.69% | 38.31% |
Inspector related jobs gender ratio
We compared inspectors with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, corrugator and stone cutter have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Examiner | 7% | 93% |
| Cake Decorator | 9% | 91% |
| Garment Inspector | 10% | 90% |
| Inspector | 62% | 38% |
| Bucket Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Stone Cutter | 99% | 1% |
| Corrugator | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Inspector demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among inspectors is White, which makes up 56.6% of all inspectors. Comparatively, 18.2% of inspectors are Hispanic or Latino and 11.9% of inspectors are Black or African American.
- White, 56.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.2%
- Black or African American, 11.9%
- Asian, 8.1%
- Unknown, 4.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Inspector race
| Inspector race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 56.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.2% |
| Black or African American | 11.9% |
| Asian | 8.1% |
| Unknown | 4.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Inspector race and ethnicity over time
See how inspector racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Inspector race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 63.76% | 11.90% | 7.10% | 14.85% |
| 2011 | 62.06% | 13.18% | 6.58% | 15.68% |
| 2012 | 62.13% | 13.22% | 7.22% | 14.86% |
| 2013 | 62.26% | 13.29% | 6.63% | 15.36% |
| 2014 | 62.63% | 12.58% | 6.81% | 15.58% |
| 2015 | 61.60% | 12.58% | 6.81% | 16.35% |
| 2016 | 62.12% | 12.74% | 6.50% | 16.15% |
| 2017 | 62.23% | 11.83% | 6.98% | 16.17% |
| 2018 | 63.29% | 11.60% | 6.95% | 15.28% |
| 2019 | 62.38% | 11.52% | 6.59% | 16.81% |
| 2020 | 59.45% | 11.42% | 7.50% | 16.55% |
| 2021 | 56.58% | 11.88% | 8.09% | 18.19% |
Inspector wage gap by race
According to our data, asian inspectors have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american inspectors have the lowest average salary at $42,045.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $43,903 |
| White | $44,139 |
| Black or African American | $42,045 |
| Asian | $45,055 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $43,060 |
Average inspector age
See how the average age of inspectors varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Inspector age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 49 | 48 |
| Unknown | 40.5 | 46 |
| Asian | 45 | 51 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 41 | 43 |
| White | 45 | 49 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 41 | 51.5 |
Inspector age breakdown
The average age of inspectors is 40+ years years old, representing 64% of the inspector population.
Inspector age breakdown
| Inspector Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 64% |
| 30-40 years | 22% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Inspector educational attainment
The most common degree for inspectors is high school diploma, with 34% of inspectors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 27% and bachelor's degree degree at 20%.
- High School Diploma, 34%
- Bachelor's, 27%
- Associate, 20%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 9%
Inspectors by degree level
| Inspector degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 34% |
| Bachelor's | 27% |
| Associate | 20% |
| Diploma | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
Inspector jobs you might like
Inspector wage gap by degree level
According to the data, inspectors with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $52,732 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, inspectors earn a median annual income of $45,604 compared to $42,040 for inspectors with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $52,732 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,891 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $45,604 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $42,040 |
Inspector employment statistics
Most inspectors work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where inspectors work
Below, you can see the size of companies where inspectors work.
Inspector jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 10% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 15% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 25% |
| > 10,000 employees | 33% |
Inspector jobs by company type
Employees with the inspector job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most inspectors prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Inspector jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 31% |
| Private | 63% |
| Government | 5% |
Inspector jobs by industry
The most common industries for inspectors are manufacturing, professional and automotive.
Inspector industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24% |
| Professional | 13% |
| Fortune 500 | 13% |
| Automotive | 9% |
| Transportation | 6% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Government | 4% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Inspector turnover and employment statistics
Inspector unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for inspectors between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Inspector unemployment rate by year
| Year | Inspector unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 12.76% |
| 2011 | 11.11% |
| 2012 | 9.24% |
| 2013 | 8.07% |
| 2014 | 6.68% |
| 2015 | 5.26% |
| 2016 | 5.61% |
| 2017 | 4.84% |
| 2018 | 4.61% |
| 2019 | 3.74% |
| 2020 | 5.71% |
| 2021 | 5.58% |
Average inspector tenure
The average inspector stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 52,667 inspectors resumes in Zippia's database.
Inspector tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 35% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Inspector LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of inspectors that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Inspector | 4.47% | - |
| Tank Filler | 4.75% | 12,907 |
| Prosthetics Fabrication Technician | 5.24% | 6,204 |
| Machine Adjuster | 7.84% | 40,920 |
| Tank Pumper | 8.41% | 4,222 |
| Factory Line Worker | 8.89% | 98,233 |
| Digital Imaging Technician | 15.21% | 23,947 |
Similar inspector jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Tank Filler | 4.75% | 12,907 |
| Prosthetics Fabrication Technician | 5.24% | 6,204 |
| Machine Adjuster | 7.84% | 40,920 |
| Tank Pumper | 8.41% | 4,222 |
| Factory Line Worker | 8.89% | 98,233 |
| Digital Imaging Technician | 15.21% | 23,947 |
Foreign languages spoken by inspectors
The most common foreign language among inspectors is Spanish at 68.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.9% and Arabic is the third-most popular at 3.5%.
- Spanish, 68.8%
- French, 6.9%
- Arabic, 3.5%
- German, 2.9%
- Portuguese, 2.6%
- Other, 15.3%
Inspector languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 68.8% |
| French | 6.9% |
| Arabic | 3.5% |
| German | 2.9% |
| Portuguese | 2.6% |
| Other | 15.3% |
