Manufacturing Quality Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Manufacturing Quality Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Manufacturing Quality Engineer in the United States is $100,396 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $117,789
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91,719 to $109,500
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $83,820

Key Factors That Influence Manufacturing Quality Engineer Salaries

A Manufacturing Quality Engineer'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 Manufacturing Quality Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Manufacturing Quality Engineer'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): $78,844
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $89,378
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $99,727
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $125,513
  • Expert (over 8 years): $144,186
Levels Salary
Productio... Level Manufacturing Quality Engineer$78,844
Productio... Level Manufacturing Quality Engineer$89,378
Manufactu... Level Manufacturing Quality Engineer$99,727
Productio... Level Manufacturing Quality Engineer$125,513
Productio... Level Manufacturing Quality Engineer$144,186

Top Paying Cities for Manufacturing Quality Engineers

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: $126,629
  • San Francisco: $125,243
  • Oakland: $122,604

What Skills Can Increase a Manufacturing Quality Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 7.01% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Metal Fabrication (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Metal fabrication is defined as creating products or structures by cutting, bending, and/or assembling metal material.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.69% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 7.01%
Metal Fabrication 2.12%
Microsoft Office 1.69%

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 Manufacturing Quality Engineer's salary.

  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Salesforce: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Science $108,428
8%
Networking $108,428
8%
Salesforce $106,420
6%

Manufacturing Quality Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Manufacturing Quality Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Manufacturing Quality Engineer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Manufacturing Quality Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Manufacturing Quality Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$125,495$60.025%
Financial Services$120,475$58.020%
Pharmaceuticals$120,475$58.020%
Software & Networking$120,475$58.020%
Aerospace & Defense$112,444$54.012%

How Education impacts a Manufacturing Quality Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Manufacturing Quality Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Manufacturing Quality Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $105,438 and $111,874).

Manufacturing Quality Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Manufacturing Quality Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.8%
High School 5.8%
Associates 7.2%
Bachelors 56.5%
Masters 26.1%
Doctorate 4.3%

Manufacturing Quality Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Manufacturing Quality Engineer'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
$91,719
Average $100,396/year
$109,500
$7,643
Average $8,366/month
$9,125
$1,764
Average $1,931/week
$2,106
$44
Average $48/hour
$53
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $109,500 $9,125 $2,106 $53
Average $100,396 $8,366 $1,931 $48
25th Percentile $91,719 $7,643 $1,764 $44

Most common benefits for Manufacturing Quality Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Manufacturing Quality Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Manufacturing Quality Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Manufacturing Quality Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Manufacturing Quality Engineer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Manufacturing Quality Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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