Quality Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Quality Associate make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Associate in the United States is $102,197 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $117,402
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91,639 to $110,156
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $82,027
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View as table View as graph 25% $91,639 10% $82,027 90% $117,402 75% $110,156 $102,197 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Quality Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $110,156 $9,180 $2,118 $53
Average $102,197 $8,516 $1,965 $49
25th Percentile $91,639 $7,637 $1,762 $44
Check out Quality Associate Job Openings in the United States
Senior Associate Quality Engineering

L3Harris Technologies - Terrace Park, OH

Quality Associate

Safecor Health - Columbus, OH

Quality Associate

Pyramid Consulting, Inc - Seville, OH

Quality Associate

Avient Corporation - Avon Lake, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Quality Associate Salaries

A Quality Associate'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 Quality Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Quality Associate'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): $69,959
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $85,038
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $102,930
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,427
  • Expert (over 8 years): $155,387
Levels Salary
Quality A... Level Quality Associate$69,959
Quality A... Level Quality Associate$85,038
Quality A... Level Quality Associate$102,930
Quality A... Level Quality Associate$128,427
Quality A... Level Quality Associate$155,387
$69,959 0 yr
$85,038 < 2 yrs
$102,930 2-4 yrs
$128,427 5-8 yrs
$155,387 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Quality Associates

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: $128,901
  • San Francisco: $127,634
  • Oakland: $124,803

What Skills Can Increase a Quality Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.19% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
  • Product Quality (Mentioned in 1.46% 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.19%
Packaging 2.11%
Product Quality 1.46%
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 Quality Associate's salary.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement
$106,285
4%
Computer Science
$106,285
4%
Project Management
$106,285
4%
Quality Management
$106,285
4%
Leadership
$106,285
4%
Change Control
$106,285
4%
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How Education impacts a Quality Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Quality Associates 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 Quality Associate with a Bachelor's Degree is between $100,752 and $105,909).

Quality Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Quality Associate
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 12.9%
High School 12.9%
Associates 5.3%
Bachelors 57.6%
Masters 23.5%
Doctorate 0.6%
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Quality Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Quality Associate'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Quality Associate

Salaries for a Quality Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $89,845 in 2023 to around $89,617 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Quality Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Quality Associate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$89,845
2024
$90,258
2025
$89,617
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $89,845
2024 $90,258
2025 $89,617
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Quality Associate

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

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

Find Your Next Quality Associate Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Quality Associate job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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.)

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

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