Quality Control Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Quality Control Specialist make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Control Specialist in the United States is $122,757 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $143,768
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $110,864 to $133,755
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $100,036
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View as table View as graph 25% $110,864 10% $100,036 90% $143,768 75% $133,755 $122,757 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Quality Control Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $133,755 $11,146 $2,572 $64
Average $122,757 $10,230 $2,361 $59
25th Percentile $110,864 $9,239 $2,132 $53
Check out Quality Control Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Quality Control Inspector Assistant Supervisor

Professional Placement Services - Cleveland, OH

Senior Analyst Quality Control

DiversityJobs - Hamilton, OH

Director of Quality Control

Tendon Manufacturing Inc. - Cleveland, OH

Quality Control Supervisor

Tremco CPG Inc. - Cleveland, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Quality Control Specialist Salaries

A Quality Control Specialist'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 Control Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Quality Control Specialist'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): $79,946
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $97,586
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $123,583
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $133,273
  • Expert (over 8 years): $82,901
Levels Salary
Quality C... Level Quality Control Specialist$79,946
Quality C... Level Quality Control Specialist$97,586
Quality C... Level Quality Control Specialist$123,583
Quality C... Level Quality Control Specialist$133,273
Quality C... Level Quality Control Specialist$82,901
$79,946 0 yr
$97,586 < 2 yrs
$123,583 2-4 yrs
$133,273 5-8 yrs
$82,901 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Quality Control Specialists

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: $154,833
  • San Francisco: $153,311
  • Oakland: $149,911

What Skills Can Increase a Quality Control Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.82% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.37% 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.
  • Construction Management (Mentioned in 1.24% Job Postings): Construction management (CM) is a professional service that uses specialized, project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project's time / delivery, cost and quality—sometimes referred to as a project management triangle or "triple constraints." CM is compatible with all project delivery systems, including design-bid-build, design-build, CM At-Risk and Public Private Partnerships. Professional construction managers may be reserved for lengthy, large-scale, high budget undertakings (commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military infrastructure), called capital projects.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.82%
Microsoft Office 2.37%
Construction Management 1.24%
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 Control Specialist's salary.
  • Microbiology: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Project Control: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Microbiology
$148,536
21%
Project Control
$144,853
18%
Risk Management
$141,171
15%
Coordination
$139,943
14%
Biochemistry
$136,260
11%
SOP
$135,033
10%
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How Education impacts a Quality Control Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Quality Control Specialists 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 Control Specialist with a Associate's Degree is between $118,847 and $128,308).

Quality Control Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Quality Control Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.0%
High School 8.0%
Associates 8.0%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 24.0%
Doctorate 8.0%
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Quality Control Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Quality Control Specialist'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 Control Specialist

Salaries for a Quality Control Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $100,386 in 2023 to around $99,235 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Quality Control Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Quality Control Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$100,386
2024
$100,031
2025
$99,235
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $100,386
2024 $100,031
2025 $99,235
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Quality Control Specialist

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

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

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Quality Control Specialist 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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