Routine inspectors and testers roles in the UK earn a median of £36,000 per year, equivalent to £17.22 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 13.3% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £29,000 in East Midlands to £48,000 in London. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £34,360/yr (5% above our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£36,000
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£17.22
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+13.3%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£31,000 – £45,000
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Routine inspectors and testers across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| London | £48,000 |
| South West | £38,000 |
| West Midlands | £38,000 |
| Scotland | £37,500 |
| East | £37,000 |
| North East | £35,000 |
| South East | £35,000 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £32,000 |
| Wales | £29,500 |
| North West | £29,500 |
| East Midlands | £29,000 |
| UK | £36,000 |
Annual pay grew by +13.3% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Routine inspectors and testers.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Routine inspectors and testers in the UK is £36,000 per year (about £17.22 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Routine inspectors and testers earn between £31,000 and £45,000 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Routine inspectors and testers pay rose by 13.3% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Routine inspectors and testers is in London, at £48,000 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Routine inspectors and testers roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
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.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.