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Total Quality Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Total Quality Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Total Quality Manager in the United States is $134,858 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $65.

However, a Total Quality Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $157,399
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $124,901 to $146,657
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $115,836
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Total Quality Manager Salaries

A Total Quality Manager'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 Total Quality Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Total Quality Manager'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:

  • Total Quality Supervisor (12+ years): $69,534
  • Total Quality Senior Supervisor (12+ years): $107,270
  • Total Quality Manager (12+ years): $134,858
  • Total Quality Senior Manager (12+ years): $173,253
  • Total Quality Director (12+ years): $199,372
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Total Quality Supervisor12+ years$69,534
Total Quality Senior Supervisor12+ years$107,270
Total Quality Manager12+ years$134,858
Total Quality Senior Manager12+ years$173,253
Total Quality Director12+ years$199,372
View as Graph

How Do Total Quality Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Total Quality Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $149,315.
  • California: $148,748.
  • Massachusetts: $146,766.

Top Paying Cities for Total Quality Managers

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: $170,096
  • San Francisco: $168,234
  • Oakland: $164,689

What Skills Can Increase a Total Quality Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Quality Management (Mentioned in 8.41% Job Postings): Quality management ensures that an organization, product or service is consistent. It has four main components: quality planning, quality assurance, quality control and quality improvement. Quality management is focused not only on product and service quality, but also on the means to achieve it. Quality management, therefore, uses quality assurance and control of processes as well as products to achieve more consistent quality. What a customer wants and is willing to pay for it determines quality. It is written or unwritten commitment to a known or unknown consumer in the market . Thus, quality can be defined as fitness for intended use or, in other words, how well the product performs its intended function
  • Product Quality (Mentioned in 2.73% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
  • Lean (Mentioned in 1.48% Job Postings): Lean manufacturing, or lean production, is a system of techniques and activities for running a manufacturing or service operation.
Skills Demand Percentage
Quality Management 8.41%
Product Quality 2.73%
Lean 1.48%
See More Skills

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 Total Quality Manager's salary.

  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation $141,601
5%
Collaboration $140,252
4%
Decision Making $138,904
3%
Get Latest Data

Total Quality Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Total Quality Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $150,709. While startup companies pay approximate $127,485.

Total Quality Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $127,485
Growth Stage 51~500 $134,828
Established 501~5000 $145,529
Enterprise 5000+ $150,709

Total Quality Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Total Quality Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 21% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 9% above the average. In contrast, Total Quality Manager positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Total Quality Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Total Quality Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$146,995$71.09%
Aerospace & Defense$145,647$70.08%
Transportation$144,298$69.07%
Energy & Utilities$141,601$68.05%
Software & Networking$141,601$68.05%

How Education impacts a Total Quality Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Total Quality Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Total Quality Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $132,167 and $141,047.

Total Quality Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Total Quality Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.2%
High School 4.6%
Associates 5.8%
Bachelors 47.4%
Masters 39.3%
Doctorate 1.7%
View as Graph

Total Quality Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Total Quality Manager'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 September 01, 2026
$124,901
Average $134,858/year
$146,657
$10,408
Average $11,238/month
$12,221
$2,402
Average $2,593/week
$2,820
$60
Average $65/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $146,657 $12,221 $2,820 $71
Average $134,858 $11,238 $2,593 $65
25th Percentile $124,901 $10,408 $2,402 $60

Total Quality Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Total Quality Manager

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Total Quality Manager, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Total Quality Senior Manager $173,253 28%
Six Sigma Quality Program Director $180,366 34%
Product Quality Systems Senior Manager $152,964 13%

Most common benefits for Total Quality Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Total Quality Manager

Here are companies hiring for Total Quality Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Total Quality Manager

1. Where can a Total Quality Manager earn the most?

A Total Quality Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Total Quality Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Total Quality Manager is $170,096.

2. What is the highest pay for Total Quality Manager?

The highest pay for Total Quality Manager is $157,399.

3. What is the lowest pay for Total Quality Manager?

The lowest pay for Total Quality Manager is $115,836.

4. What are the responsibilities of Total Quality Manager?

Manages the team responsible for the implementation, administration, and measurement of total quality management programs. Leads the team in providing training, tools, and logistical assistance for quality initiatives. Oversees the development of new testing tools, measurement methods, and systems to ensure products and services meet quality standards. Leads cross functional teams in studying and developing effective tools, methods, and systems to ensure that the products and services are of the highest quality. Creates standards to measure quality results and to drive continuous improvements. Requires a bachelor's degree. Requires Six Sigma or Kaizen certification. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Total Quality Manager?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Total Quality Manager roles, with salaries approximately 9% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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