The average pay for a Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist is $18.85 per hour.
The average pay for a Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist is $56,734 per year.
Job Description for Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist
Quality assurance specialists work in a variety of fields, including manufacturing (in which this position mostly entails physical labor) and firms that provide a service, such as consulting (where QA specialists develop strategies and techniques to ensure that all clients receive a similar high level of quality and helpfulness). Regardless of the industry in which they work, QA specialists have a keen eye for detail and a strong understanding of their company's manufacturing or service processes.
Read More...- Support quality related customer complaint investigations and trending activities.
- Carry out annual product reviews.
- Support the development and implementation of improved quality reporting measures.
- Perform training in all aspects of Quality Management Systems.
Popular Employer Salaries for Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist
The Boeing Company, Nosco Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., U.S. Department of Defense, and Amgen Corporation are all popular places to work. Quality Assurance Specialists flock to Amgen Corporation for generous paychecks, where average earnings of $83K lead the pack in compensation. Soaring salaries can also be found at Gilead Sciences, Inc., The Boeing Company, and GlaxoSmithKline, where earnings of $82K, $79K, or $78K are standard for Quality Assurance Specialists.
The lowest salaries can be found at Nosco Inc. — median pay is $34K — and there is little variation in compensation, with paychecks starting at $32K and only reaching $50K. Others at the bottom of the scale for this job include Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc. at $49K, New York Organ Donor Network at $53K, and Amazon.com Inc, where $53K is the norm.
Common Career Paths for Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist
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There are some Quality Assurance Specialists — though it's uncommon — that transition into Quality Assurance Directors, where earnings are an average $110K annually. Typical career progression for a Quality Assurance Specialist involves becoming a Quality Assurance Manager or a Quality Manager, roles that pay $20K more and $24K more on average.
Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist Job Listings
Popular Skills for Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist
Survey respondents exploit a significant toolbox of skills in their work. Most notably, skills in GMP Compliance, Regulatory Compliance, Internal Audit, and Process Improvement are correlated to pay that is above average. Skills that are correlated to lower pay, on the other hand, include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Office. Most people who know Quality Assurance / Quality Control also know Regulatory Compliance, Data Analysis, and Microsoft Office. The majority of those who know Quality Improvement / QA also know Data Analysis.
Pay by Experience Level for Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist
Pay by Experience for a Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist has a positive trend. An entry-level Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist with less than 5 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $44,000 based on 1,699 salaries provided by anonymous users. Average total compensation includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay. A Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist with mid-career experience which includes employees with 5 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $55,000 based on 907 salaries. An experienced Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist which includes employees with 10 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $60,000 based on 688 salaries. A Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist with late-career experience which includes employees with greater than 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $61,000 based on 228 salaries.
Pay Difference by Location
Surpassing the national average by 47 percent, Quality Assurance Specialists in San Francisco receive some of the highest pay in the country. Quality Assurance Specialists will also find cushy salaries in Boston (+23 percent), Philadelphia (+22 percent), Minneapolis (+21 percent), and Chicago (+11 percent). Those in the field find the lowest salaries in San Antonio, 13 percent below the national average. Employers also pay below the national average in Houston (2 percent lower) and Dallas (1 percent lower).
Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist Advice
Related Job Salaries
Key Stats for Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist
Gender
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Female
63 % |
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Male
37 % |
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Job Satisfaction
| Highly satisfied |
Rated 4 out of 5 based on 1105 votes. |
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