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Qc Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Qc Scientist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Qc Scientist in the United States is $76,795 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

However, a Qc Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $92,204
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $66,753 to $84,861
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $57,610
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Qc Scientist Salaries

A Qc Scientist'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 Qc Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Qc Scientist'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-Level (less than 1 year): $63,356
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $78,887
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,286
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $121,955
  • Expert (over 8 years): $131,509
Levels Salary
Quality C... Level Qc Scientist$63,356
Qc Scient... Level Qc Scientist$78,887
Quality C... Level Qc Scientist$96,286
Quality C... Level Qc Scientist$121,955
Quality C... Level Qc Scientist$131,509
View as Graph

How Do Qc Scientist 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 Qc Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $85,028.
  • California: $84,705.
  • Massachusetts: $83,576.

Top Paying Cities for Qc Scientists

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: $96,862
  • San Francisco: $95,801
  • Oakland: $93,782

What Skills Can Increase a Qc Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.61% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 2.84% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
  • Chemistry (Mentioned in 2.06% Job Postings): Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances of which matter is composed.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.61%
Food Safety 2.84%
Chemistry 2.06%
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 Qc Scientist's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $82,171
7%
SOP $81,403
6%
Collaboration $80,635
5%
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Qc Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Qc Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 5% above the average. In contrast, Qc Scientist positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Qc Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Qc Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$80,635$39.05%
Biotechnology$80,635$39.05%
Business Services$80,635$39.05%
Chemicals$80,635$39.05%
Construction$80,635$39.05%

How Education impacts a Qc Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Qc Scientists enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Qc Scientist with a Associate's Degree is between $75,130 and $80,644).

Qc Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Qc Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 1.8%
Associates 4.5%
Bachelors 70.5%
Masters 23.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Qc Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Qc Scientist'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
$66,753
Average $76,795/year
$84,861
$5,563
Average $6,400/month
$7,072
$1,284
Average $1,477/week
$1,632
$32
Average $37/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $84,861 $7,072 $1,632 $41
Average $76,795 $6,400 $1,477 $37
25th Percentile $66,753 $5,563 $1,284 $32

Most common benefits for Qc Scientist

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

Common company salaries for Qc Scientist

Here are companies hiring for Qc Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Qc Scientist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Qc Scientist?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Qc Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 5% 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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