Quality Control Analysts
Conduct tests to determine quality of raw materials, bulk intermediate and finished products. May conduct stability sample tests.
Also called: Lab Analyst · Lab Technician (Lab Tech) · Laboratory Analyst · Microbiology Lab Analyst · QA Auditor (Quality Assurance Auditor) · QA Lab Tech (Quality Assurance Lab Technician)
Median pay (national)
$60,130
$37,310–$101,870 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
71,400
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.5%
~10,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
Associate's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for quality control analysts shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $101,870 versus $37,310 at the bottom 10% — 2.7x. The median of $60,130 leaves roughly 69% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.5% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 10,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 51 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $75,780, +26% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $37,710 — a 101% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Monitoring, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Science
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Conduct routine and non-routine analyses of in-process materials, raw materials, environmental samples, finished goods, or stability samples.
- Interpret test results, compare them to established specifications and control limits, and make recommendations on appropriateness of data for release.
- Calibrate, validate, or maintain laboratory equipment.
- Ensure that lab cleanliness and safety standards are maintained.
- Perform visual inspections of finished products.
- Complete documentation needed to support testing procedures, including data capture forms, equipment logbooks, or inventory forms.
- Compile laboratory test data and perform appropriate analyses.
- Identify and troubleshoot equipment problems.
- Write technical reports or documentation, such as deviation reports, testing protocols, and trend analyses.
- Investigate or report questionable test results.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
- Sparta Systems TrackWise
- Atlassian JIRA
- C
- Extensible markup language XML
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft ASP.NET
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Visual Basic
Knowledge areas
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Food Production
- Mechanical