Clothing quality inspector
Also known as: garment and textile quality controller, clothing quality control inspector, clothing quality control supervisor, garment quality controller
About this occupation
Clothing quality inspectors inspect manufactured components, ready-made garments in order to ensure compliance with quality standards and to identify defects or deviations from specifications and in order to classify them according to their quality. They inspect, test products, parts and materials for conformity with specifications and standards. They ensure all work produced meets or exceeds the department's quality standards.
A specialisation of product quality inspector.
Essential skills and knowledge
- distinguish accessories
- standard sizing systems for clothing
- operate computerised control systems
- manufacturing of made-up textile articles
- grade patterns for wearing apparel
- manufacturing of wearing apparel
- evaluate garment quality
- inspect wearing apparel products
- check quality of products in textile production line
- distinguish fabrics
- make technical drawings of fashion pieces
- operate garment manufacturing machines
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (O*NET 51-9061.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
- Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.
- Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.
- Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
- Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Quality Control Analysis, Writing, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking
US median pay: US$48,570 a year (2025), 597,370 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.6)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.2)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
- Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.