If you are looking for a fairly straightforward paycheck, becoming a weigher, measurer, checker, and sampler may be a good option for you. The job task is exactly as it sounds—weighing, measuring, checking, and sampling products and equipment to ensure that all records are correct and updated. Many product companies and organizations need people to record data about products and manage that data with a spreadsheet, electronic data files, file reports, and lists. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers perform many clerical duties that go along with these tasks.

Here’s what you need to know about weigher, measurer, checker, and sampler jobs in today’s market:

This type of record keeping has changed significantly over the years. As with most jobs, the record-keeping industry has evolved with the rapid pace of computer technology. Today’s weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers often use computers, scanners, email, electronic spreadsheets and Internet Web pages to do their jobs. Computer programs now do many of the tasks that were done by hand in the past, such as alphabetizing, calculating, and sorting data.

You need to be computer-savvy. While technology has made record keeping more effective and efficient, you as the worker will need to know how to operate a computer and the relevant software.

A high school degree is preferable. Many weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers go into the field shortly after high school graduation as a way to earn money fairly quickly and easily. A high school education often provides the necessary skills for this industry, including good math and fact-checking skills. High schools also teach important skills in keyboarding and computers (including word processing, spreadsheet, and database management software). If you did not acquire these skills in high school, you may need to brush up through Internet tutorials or through a class at your local community college.

Use it as a stepping stone. Recent surveys show that weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers make an average of $26,000 a year. This can be a great way to earn money during the early adult years while you are starting out on your own and trying to pay for an education. For this reason, jobs in this field can be a great stepping stone that allows you to earn money while going to college or gaining work experience for other jobs. If you want to advance within the merchandise field, being a weigher or checker is a good entry-level job while you pursue a college education in business or marketing.

Think outside the box. There are many different types of weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, for a wide variety of companies and industries. So don’t limit yourself to one industry—when you are looking for a job in this field, you will have better luck if you consider a variety of employers.

You’ll receive on-the-job training. Different types of weighing and checking jobs require different kinds of software and protocol. Your employer will provide on-the-job training during your first couple of weeks, specifically geared for your job task. After the training period ends, you will be expected to perform the tasks on your own.

Employment growth is declining. Employment growth of weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers is expected to decline dramatically over the next decade, at a rate of 13 percent. This means that in the future, fewer companies will be hiring weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, probably because better training and technology allow their employers to perform many of the tasks on their own. However, there will continue to be available jobs as current employees leave their positions to move on to other fields.