Quality Assurance Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Quality Assurance Scientist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Assurance Scientist in the United States is $68,449 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,715
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,728 to $74,346
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,789

Key Factors That Influence Quality Assurance Scientist Salaries

A Quality Assurance 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 Quality Assurance Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Quality Assurance 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): $69,055
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,943
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $101,597
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,750
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,423
Levels Salary
Quality A... Level Quality Assurance Scientist$69,055
Quality A... Level Quality Assurance Scientist$83,943
Quality A... Level Quality Assurance Scientist$101,597
Quality A... Level Quality Assurance Scientist$126,750
Quality A... Level Quality Assurance Scientist$153,423

How Do Quality Assurance 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 Quality Assurance Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $75,787.
  • California: $75,499.
  • Massachusetts: $74,493.

Top Paying Cities for Quality Assurance 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: $86,335
  • San Francisco: $85,389
  • Oakland: $83,590

What Skills Can Increase a Quality Assurance Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 4.77% 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.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 2.28% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Auditing (Mentioned in 1.55% Job Postings): Auditing refers to the independent examination of financial information of any entity whether profit oriented or not. It is a safeguard measure that prevents corruption.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 4.77%
SOP 2.28%
Auditing 1.55%

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 Assurance Scientist's salary.

  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • SQL: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Science $75,978
11%
Project Management $75,294
10%
SQL $75,294
10%

Quality Assurance Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Quality Assurance Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Quality Assurance Scientist positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Quality Assurance Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Quality Assurance Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$88,984$43.030%
Energy & Utilities$85,561$41.025%
Financial Services$82,139$39.020%
Pharmaceuticals$82,139$39.020%
Software & Networking$82,139$39.020%

How Education impacts a Quality Assurance Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Quality Assurance 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 Quality Assurance Scientist with a Associate's Degree is between $63,731 and $67,850).

Quality Assurance Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Quality Assurance Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 19.2%
Associates 13.9%
Bachelors 54.5%
Masters 11.5%
Doctorate 0.0%

Quality Assurance Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Quality Assurance 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
$59,728
Average $68,449/year
$74,346
$4,977
Average $5,704/month
$6,196
$1,149
Average $1,316/week
$1,430
$29
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $74,346 $6,196 $1,430 $36
Average $68,449 $5,704 $1,316 $33
25th Percentile $59,728 $4,977 $1,149 $29

Most common benefits for Quality Assurance Scientist

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

Common company salaries for Quality Assurance Scientist

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

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FAQ about Quality Assurance Scientist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Quality Assurance Scientist?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Quality Assurance Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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