Specialist Quality Control Inspector Salary in the United States

How much does a Specialist Quality Control Inspector make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Specialist Quality Control Inspector in the United States is $75,390 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Specialist Quality Control Inspector's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,068
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,490 to $85,690
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,208
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View as table View as graph 25% $68,490 10% $62,208 90% $95,068 75% $85,690 $75,390 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Specialist Quality Control Inspector Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $85,690 $7,141 $1,648 $41
Average $75,390 $6,283 $1,450 $36
25th Percentile $68,490 $5,708 $1,317 $33
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Key Factors That Influence Specialist Quality Control Inspector Salaries

A Specialist Quality Control Inspector's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Specialist Quality Control Inspector Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Specialist Quality Control Inspector's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry Quality Control Inspector (0-1 years): $48,565
  • Intermediate Quality Control Inspector (1-3 years): $53,292
  • QC Inspector III (3-5 years): $67,338
  • Specialist Quality Control Inspector (5-7 years): $75,379
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Quality Control Inspector0-1 years$48,565
Intermediate Quality Control Inspector1-3 years$53,292
QC Inspector III3-5 years$67,338
Specialist Quality Control Inspector5-7 years$75,379
$48,565 Entry Qua...
$53,292 Intermedi...
$67,338 QC Inspec...
$75,379 Specialis...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Specialist Quality Control Inspectors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $95,090
  • San Francisco: $94,190
  • Oakland: $92,090

What Skills Can Increase a Specialist Quality Control Inspector's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 3.88% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Calibration (Mentioned in 2.76% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
  • Welding (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool causing fusion. Welding is distinct from lower temperature metal-joining techniques such as brazing and soldering, which do not melt the base metal. In addition to melting the base metal, a filler material is typically added to the joint to form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to form a joint that, based on weld configuration (butt, full penetration, fillet, etc.), can be stronger than the base material (parent metal). Pressure may also be used in conjunction with heat, or by itself, to produce a weld. Welding also requires a form of shield to protect the filler metals or melted metals from being contaminated or oxidized. Many different energy sources can be used for welding, including a gas flame (chemical), an electric arc (electrical), a laser, an electron beam, friction, and ultrasound. While often an industrial process, welding may be performed in many different environments, including in open air, under water, and in outer space. Welding is a hazardous undertaking and precautions are required to avoid burns, electric shock, vision damage, inhalation of poisonous gases and fumes, and exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 3.88%
Calibration 2.76%
Welding 1.64%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Specialist Quality Control Inspector's salary.
  • Critical Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Packaging: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Quality Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Critical Thinking
$92,730
23%
Packaging
$88,960
18%
Quality Management
$85,191
13%
Decision Making
$84,437
12%
Quality Management System
$84,437
12%
Coordination
$82,929
10%
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How Education impacts a Specialist Quality Control Inspector's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Specialist Quality Control Inspectors enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Specialist Quality Control Inspector with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $62,294 and $66,420).

Specialist Quality Control Inspector Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Specialist Quality Control Inspector
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 50.6%
Associates 23.6%
Bachelors 22.5%
Masters 2.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Specialist Quality Control Inspector Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Specialist Quality Control Inspector's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on March 01, 2026

Specialist Quality Control Inspector Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Specialist Quality Control Inspector, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Product Quality Control Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $91,700 - a projected growth of 22% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Specialist Quality Control Inspector

Salaries for a Specialist Quality Control Inspector can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $57,692 in 2023 to around $57,742 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Specialist Quality Control Inspector salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Specialist Quality Control Inspector Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$57,692
2024
$57,848
2025
$57,742
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $57,692
2024 $57,848
2025 $57,742
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Specialist Quality Control Inspector

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Specialist Quality Control Inspector

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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