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Job outlook for program manager/quality assurance managers in the United States
Program manager/quality assurance manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected program manager/quality assurance manager job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 7,100 new jobs for program manager/quality assurance managers are projected over the next decade.
Program manager/quality assurance manager salaries have increased 12% for program manager/quality assurance managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 39,104 program manager/quality assurance managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 123,384 active program manager/quality assurance manager job openings in the US.
The average program manager/quality assurance manager salary is $122,208.
Are program manager/quality assurance manager jobs in demand?
Program manager/quality assurance manager job and salary trends over time
Program manager/quality assurance manager jobs over time
Program manager/quality assurance manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 39,104 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 36,521 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 37,787 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 34,998 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 32,965 | 0.01% |
Average program manager/quality assurance manager salary over time
Program manager/quality assurance manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $122,208 | $58.75 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $118,489 | $56.97 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $116,130 | $55.83 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $112,985 | $54.32 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $109,121 | $52.46 | +3.4% |
Program manager/quality assurance manager jobs by state
Most common states for program manager/quality assurance managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 312 | 45% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 471 | 35% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 238 | 32% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 304 | 29% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 279 | 29% |
| 6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 841 | 27% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,435 | 26% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 951 | 23% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 790 | 22% |
| 10 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 431 | 22% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 229 | 22% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,195 | 21% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,011 | 20% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,778 | 20% |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,582 | 19% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,392 | 19% |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,249 | 19% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,137 | 19% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,121 | 19% |
| 20 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,228 | 18% |
Most common cities for program manager/quality assurance managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walpole | 1 | 4% | $124,744 |
| 2 | Pittsfield | 1 | 2% | $124,419 |
| 3 | Waltham | 1 | 2% | $124,344 |
| 4 | Somerville | 1 | 1% | $124,317 |
| 5 | Springfield | 1 | 1% | $124,859 |
| 6 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $124,399 |
Program Manager/Quality Assurance Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of program manager/quality assurance manager experts
Freed-Hardeman University
Oklahoma Baptist University
University of Tennessee
Swarthmore College
Western Carolina University
Auburn University at Montgomery
Maryville University
Davenport University
Azusa Pacific University
What's a day at work look like for a Program Manager/Quality Assurance Manager?
Kristen Roberson: That depends on the role they are in, but the big hurdle is going to be landing that first role. They need to be willing to shift their plans, be ready to try contract or project-based work. No matter where they land, the ability to self-manage will be more critical than before 2020 since more work will be remote and much more video conferences, and a lot less travel.
Dr. Daryl Green
Associate Professor of BusinessOklahoma Baptist University
College of Business
What soft skills should all Program Manager/Quality Assurance Managers possess?
Dr. Daryl Green: The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified eight competencies associated with career readiness. These soft skills include career management, communication, critical thinking, cultural intelligence, digital literacy, leadership, professionalism, and teamwork. Sadly, most students are not aware of employers' expectation of career readiness competencies. College students who develop these career readiness competencies will be better prepared to compete for future job opportunities.
Scott Gilpatric
Professor and Department HeadUniversity of Tennessee
Department of Economics, Haslam College of Business
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Program Manager/Quality Assurance Managers?
Scott Gilpatric: Certainly some individuals will have an enduring impact if the pandemic really disrupted their life. For example, if they are a parent got very sick and the student became unable to continue in college, or their performance really suffered. But more broadly, I actually think we will come out the pandemic this summer with a strong economy-possibly even the strongest economic boom since the late nineties. So I think for many it will be a very good time to be starting a career.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Program Manager/Quality Assurance Managers?
Stephen O'Connell: Recessions are a tough time to enter the job market and we're in the worst recession since the Great Depression. It remains to be seen whether the labor market will bounce back strongly, but it certainly won't bounce back in time to ease the situation of the class of '21 very much. Be ready to be persistent and resilient in your job search.
On the positive side for public policy work, the Trump Administration and the pandemic have left us with immense challenges of resuming normal, evidence-based policymaking and managing recovery from the pandemic. So public policy analysis may be a more robust area of the job market.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Program Manager/Quality Assurance Managers?
Angela Sebby Ph.D.: While jobs may be slower to return to the capacity pre-Covid, the industry and tourism employment will rebound as people still want to travel and explore diverse foods, cultures, and experiences. However, the enduring impact will be the rapid onset of technology that allowed for limited contact with employees and others has become the new norm. Although human interaction is an important aspect of service in the tourism industry, employers have found that they can reduce the number of personal interactions but still deliver an acceptable level of quality service. What would have taken years to adopt, COVID created an amplified adoption.
What soft skills should all Program Manager/Quality Assurance Managers possess?
TeWhan Hahn Ph.D.: Writing skills including email writing, being able to work in teams, and knowing the workplace etiquettes.
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.
Program Director & Assistant ProfessorMaryville University
Speech-Language Pathology
What's a day at work look like for a Program Manager/Quality Assurance Manager?
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.: A bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for three different tracks. First, it can prepare you to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). This is someone who works under a fully credential speech-language pathologist. Often times, they carryout intervention plans developed by a fully credentialed speech-language pathologist. If graduate school is on your horizon, a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders will prepare you for acceptance into a Speech-Language Pathology program, or an Audiology program. If you are not accepted into a graduate program right away, working as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a great way to get experience in the field!
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Program Manager/Quality Assurance Manager job market given the pandemic?
Todd Terry: The pandemic has caused many existing businesses to scale back or go out of business. This disruption provides an avenue for the entrepreneur to excel. Areas that should experience entrepreneurial growth may include, technology, supply chain management with an emphasis on product delivery to the end consumer. Risk management is another sector that will experience growth. The business world is experiencing something it never had realized before with the pandemic, and this brings to the forefront the need to be prepared for such another type of experience. Online retail management is a sector that has experienced growth during the pandemic and is becoming the norm. Customers have adapted well to this concept of ordering products online and having them delivered to their door step. This practice turns into a time saving opportunity for the customer, and an opportunity for the entrepreneur to provide a service with in the supply chain.
What's a day at work look like for a Program Manager/Quality Assurance Manager?
Todd Terry: What once was well defined with working hours, an office space, coworkers being close by to develop relationships with seems to be misplaced during the current working environment. In the working situation we are in today, graduates will need to be flexible with working hours as work hours may not be defined and could change by day. Office space may mean that one is working remotely from home. Building of relationships with coworkers will be done using technology as coworkers may be located in many different areas or time zones.
In general business will continue to function remotely. The pandemic has created a sense of creativity in how business is done. The one major component the pandemic has created is where large and small businesses are conducting daily business functions from remote locations. This practice has proven that business can be effectively done without having to travel to distant locations. Consequently, business travel will be continue to be slow.
What's a good job out of college for Program Manager/Quality Assurance Managers?
Bala Musa Ph.D.: A good job out of college is one that allows you to apply creative and critical thinking skills. Future work environments will require employees to innovate and adapt. Any job that helps you cultivate, sharpen and apply those skills will serve you and your organization well. It will prepare you to adapt in the face of change and future disruptions.