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QC Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a QC Officer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a QC Officer in the United States is $126,042 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $149,208
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $115,011 to $138,168
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $104,968
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence QC Officer Salaries

A QC Officer'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 QC Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a QC Officer'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): $80,955
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $98,809
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $125,151
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $134,955
  • Expert (over 8 years): $83,937
Levels Salary
Quality C... Level QC Officer$80,955
Quality C... Level QC Officer$98,809
QC Office... Level QC Officer$125,151
Quality C... Level QC Officer$134,955
Quality C... Level QC Officer$83,937
View as Graph

How Do QC Officer 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 QC Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $139,554.
  • California: $139,024.
  • Massachusetts: $137,172.

Top Paying Cities for QC Officers

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: $158,977
  • San Francisco: $157,236
  • Oakland: $153,922

What Skills Can Increase a QC Officer'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.82%
Microsoft Office 2.37%
Construction Management 1.24%
See More Skills

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 QC Officer'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 $152,511
21%
Project Control $148,730
18%
Risk Management $144,948
15%
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QC Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For QC Officer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, QC Officer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view QC Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a QC Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$163,855$79.030%
Pharmaceuticals$151,250$73.020%
Software & Networking$151,250$73.020%
Financial Services$138,646$67.010%
Chemicals$132,344$64.05%

How Education impacts a QC Officer's Salary?

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

QC Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for QC Officer
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%
View as Graph

QC Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a QC Officer'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
$115,011
Average $126,042/year
$138,168
$9,584
Average $10,504/month
$11,514
$2,212
Average $2,424/week
$2,657
$55
Average $61/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $138,168 $11,514 $2,657 $66
Average $126,042 $10,504 $2,424 $61
25th Percentile $115,011 $9,584 $2,212 $55

Most common benefits for QC Officer

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

Common company salaries for QC Officer

Here are companies hiring for QC Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about QC Officer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for QC Officer?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for QC Officer 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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