For those with an eye for detail and a desire to hit the ground running in a job that typically requires only a brief period of training, there’s one key question that needs to be answered: How much does a quality control analyst make? With a job that oversees the quality of everything from consumer electronics to consumer vehicles and much more, it’s no secret that those in the quality assurance field are some of the most important workers in most manufacturing and testing operations. Accordingly, the quality control occupation is one with a healthy median wage.
Wages and Job Growth: A Primer for Those in the Quality Assurance Field
According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics the job market for quality control analysts is highly competitive. That’s because the field is growing at an overall rate of just 6 percent, which pegs it slightly lower than the average growth rate for all occupations in the United States combined. Despite the competitive nature of this field, quality control analysts can still expect to earn a living wage on the job, no matter where they put their talents to use.
As of 2012, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates that the average salary for those working as a quality assurance analyst is about $34,460 per year. That comes out to about $16.57 per hour. As with all occupations, those who are new to the field can expect to earn a bit less than the median wage for all quality assurance analysts. Those with significant experience in this area can expect to earn more, especially if they advance into management or oversight roles that give them a far greater degree of responsibility for both a company’s products and its entire quality assurance team.
Opportunities in a Variety of Industries Nationwide
Though job growth in this field is a bit slower than in all occupations combined, those considering a career as a quality assurance analyst shouldn’t be discouraged. The good news is that this field is still moderately in demand across a large variety of industries, and the job prospects for candidates tend to vary based on the industry. For example, the pharmaceutical industry has a very strong need for quality assurance analysts who can assure that its prescription medications and over-the-counter alternatives won’t cause problems with those who rely on them. This area of the quality assurance field is growing a bit more quickly, and generally offers a more generous compensation structure than the average salary for the field might indicate.
Other areas of heavy demand include American manufacturing, especially in the tech sector. With numerous companies moving assembly and chip production operations back to the United States from numerous countries overseas, quality assurance analysts may be able to find a job that combines their eye for detail with things like computer proficiency, MIS degrees, and more. The resurgent American automotive industry is also looking for a larger number of quality control analysts than it has been in recent decades.
Great Opportunities and Salaries for Analysts
There are plenty of excellent opportunities for quality assurance analysts in today’s job market, especially in the pharmaceutical, technology, and automotive sectors. When it comes to answering the question, “how much does a quality assurance analyst make?” the answer comes down to the industry, demand, and unique skills that characterize each applicant.
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