Quality Inspector Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Quality Inspector in the United States is $53,131 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $65,263
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,695 to $59,481
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,746
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View as table View as graph 25% $47,695 10% $42,746 90% $65,263 75% $59,481 $53,131 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Quality Inspector Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $59,481 $4,957 $1,144 $29
Average $53,131 $4,428 $1,022 $26
25th Percentile $47,695 $3,975 $917 $23
Check out Quality Inspector Job Openings in the United States
Quality Inspector

Express Employment Professionals Defunct - Columbus, OH

Quality Inspector

Western Partitions, Inc. - Columbus, OH

Quality Inspector

Trillium Staffing - Columbus, OH

Quality Inspector

Stratosphere Quality - Columbus, OH

Search More Quality Inspector Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Quality Inspector Salaries

A Quality Inspector'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.

Top Paying Cities for Quality Inspectors

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: $67,013
  • San Francisco: $66,280
  • Oakland: $64,883

What Skills Can Increase a Quality Inspector's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.86% 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.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 3.05% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.89% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.86%
Data Entry 3.05%
Continuous Improvement 1.89%
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 Inspector's salary.
  • HACCP: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Food Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Quality Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
HACCP
$57,912
9%
Food Safety
$56,850
7%
Quality Management
$56,318
6%
Building Relationships
$56,318
6%
Analysis
$55,787
5%
Facilitation
$55,787
5%
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Quality Inspector Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Quality Inspector roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Quality Inspector positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Quality Inspector as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Quality Inspector

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$63,757$31.020%

How Education impacts a Quality Inspector's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Quality Inspectors enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Inspector with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $49,458 and $52,827).

Quality Inspector Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Quality Inspector
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.7%
High School 53.4%
Associates 27.4%
Bachelors 13.7%
Masters 2.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Quality Inspector Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Quality Inspector'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Quality Inspector

Salaries for a Quality Inspector can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,138 in 2023 to around $43,049 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Quality Inspector salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Quality Inspector Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,138
2024
$43,438
2025
$43,049
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,138
2024 $43,438
2025 $43,049
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Quality Inspector

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

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

Find Your Next Quality Inspector Job

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

United States
  • Battelle

    Columbus, OH

    Battelle | Columbus, OH

    Circuit Card Assembly/Electronics Inspector. Battelle delivers when others can't. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Mid-State Sales

    Columbus, OH

    Mid-State Sales | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Benefits. Health insurance. Paid time off. Training & development. Vision insurance. 401(k). 401(k) matching. Bonus based... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Crown Staffing Solutions, L.L.C.

    Columbus, OH

    Crown Staffing Solutions, L.L.C. | Columbus, OH

    Quality Welding Inspector. Location: Columbus, Ohio 43230 (Gahanna). Rate: Starting at $22/HR, depending on experience. Position Overview: The Quality Weld... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Battelle

    Columbus, OH

    Battelle | Columbus, OH

    Quality Inspector. Battelle delivers when others can't. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products ... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Vista Packaging & Logistics

    Columbus, OH

    Vista Packaging & Logistics | Columbus, OH

    DescriptionPOSITION SUMMARYResponsible for conducting tests to determine the quality of materials and finished products as well as identifying areas of imp... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Fulcrum Reliability Systems

    Columbus, OH

    Fulcrum Reliability Systems | Columbus, OH

    Data Center Quality Inspector-Intern (DCQI-0). As a Data Center Quality Inspector I, you provide superb quality control services for our clients. The work ... more

    9 Days Ago

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FAQ about Quality Inspector

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Quality Inspector?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Quality Inspector roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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