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Job outlook for quality analysts in the United States
Quality analyst job and salary trends over time
Quality analyst jobs over time
Quality analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 203,696 | 0.06% |
| 2020 | 194,470 | 0.06% |
| 2019 | 138,461 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 94,274 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 78,544 | 0.02% |
Average quality analyst salary over time
Quality analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,957 | $34.59 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $69,586 | $33.45 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $68,010 | $32.70 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $66,684 | $32.06 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $65,178 | $31.34 | +1.5% |
Quality analyst jobs by state
Most common states for quality analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 413 | 60% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 359 | 27% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,501 | 25% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,914 | 23% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 218 | 23% |
| 6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 650 | 21% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 129 | 21% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,375 | 20% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,143 | 20% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 214 | 20% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 148 | 20% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,812 | 18% |
| 13 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,009 | 18% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 700 | 17% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 333 | 17% |
| 16 | Alaska | 739,795 | 126 | 17% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 98 | 17% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 6,398 | 16% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,482 | 16% |
| 20 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,152 | 16% |
Most common cities for quality analysts
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 3 | 8% | $78,383 |
| 2 | Columbia | 5 | 5% | $78,239 |
| 3 | Palo Alto | 3 | 4% | $90,701 |
| 4 | Carrollton | 3 | 2% | $68,733 |
| 5 | Hartford | 3 | 2% | $73,790 |
| 6 | Huntsville | 3 | 2% | $64,972 |
| 7 | Savannah | 3 | 2% | $67,197 |
| 8 | Boston | 5 | 1% | $70,436 |
| 9 | Baltimore | 4 | 1% | $78,338 |
| 10 | Tampa | 4 | 1% | $63,940 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 3 | 1% | $67,323 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 3 | 1% | $59,480 |
| 13 | Minneapolis | 3 | 1% | $68,537 |
| 14 | Sacramento | 3 | 1% | $90,150 |
| 15 | Phoenix | 6 | 0% | $72,880 |
| 16 | Dallas | 3 | 0% | $68,806 |
| 17 | Jacksonville | 3 | 0% | $64,596 |
| 18 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $75,456 |
Quality Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of quality analyst experts
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
University of North Dakota
Saint John Fisher College
University of La Verne
Kent State University
Widener University
Sullivan University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Prairie View A & M University
SUNY College at Geneseo
University of Missouri - Columbia
Siena College
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
University of Maine
West Virginia University
What Quality Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Swagata Banerjee PhD: Digital literacy: As technology continues to evolve, proficiency in digital tools and platforms will become increasingly essential. Adaptability: The ability to quickly learn new skills and adapt to changing circumstances will be crucial in a rapidly evolving industry landscape. Data literacy: Understanding and analyzing data will become more important for making informed decisions and optimizing strategies. Interdisciplinary skills: The ability to work across different disciplines and collaborate effectively with diverse teams will be highly valued. Emotional intelligence: Soft skills such as empathy, communication, and teamwork will continue to be in demand as workplaces become more interconnected and dynamic.
Dany Doueiri
ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Quality Analyst?
Dany Doueiri: Don't try to start your own business right after you graduate. Keep your dreams, passions, and aspirations alive but get experience from the field through companies, organizations, and institutions. Gain wisdom from those who have more experience than you and those who make mistakes, including your own shortcomings. Then, you can consider branching out. Finally, learning never stops at the end of your college journey. Be humble and keep on learning for life.
What will help Quality Analysts increase their earning potential?
Bradley Andrew Ph.D.: Once you have your first job, ask about or determine the 20% of your supervisor’s job that they hate and start doing that for them. They will love you for it and it will quickly get you recognition. You’ll also be well on your way to learning your boss’s job. Continue doing this as you progress in your career (Kudos to Theo Epstein, former GM for the Red Sox, for this recommendation)
No matter the task you’re given, do it to the absolute best of your abilities. In the professional world, you may often be given menial tasks or tasks that you don’t believe are part of your job description. Doing those tasks to the absolute best of your ability leads to increased trust, recognition and responsibility and will put you “above class.” If asked, the coffee you bring should be the best your boss has ever had. You never know who’s watching.
Don’t expect credit and don’t ask for credit when things go right; give the credit to others.
What will help Quality Analysts increase their earning potential?
Zhu Mao: Find yourself a good platform and demonstrate your irreplaceability. New challenges always coming out from the interdisciplinary area and continuous learning will not only enhance the capability, but also demonstrate the commitment to professional growth and engagement to the field.
Yvette Koepke
Associate Dean for Academic SuccessUniversity of North Dakota
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What Quality Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Yvette Koepke: Salary: Preparation is key. Prepare by taking advantage of opportunities and experiences through projects, jobs, internships, organizations, or volunteering. Prepare by doing homework about the field and the position, and research showing the value of diversity. And prepare by practicing how best to make the case for what you can contribute.
What will help Quality Analysts increase their earning potential?
Yi Liu Ph.D., CFP®: Having grit is more important than you may realize because facing challenges and barriers is part of the process. There will be bumps and hurdles. But what important is that you do not give up. It's okay not to have all of the answers on the first day. Be curious, ask questions, and delve deeply into learning about your profession. It can take up to 6,000 hours to completely master a field. So, allow yourself the opportunity to learn and grow. Enjoy the journey, not the destination. That's where the true learning occurs.
What general advice would you give to a Quality Analyst?
William Luse PhD.: I advise graduates to remain open to new opportunities, even those that might not initially seem aligned with their career goals. Often, the most valuable chances for skill development and growth emerge from the most unexpected places. Approach the unfamiliar with open arms, as it could lead you down a path to success you hadn't considered.
What Quality Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Vaneet Kaur: There are two sets of skills I will highly encourage graduates to proactively start building. Firstly, business graduates need to develop higher-order skills and capabilities like knowledge-based dynamic capabilities. These will help them to (a) constantly collect knowledge about emerging opportunities (and threats) in the industry, (b) mobilize themselves and their resources to bring identified opportunities into fruition, and (c) constantly renew their skills to effectively respond to the changes in the environment. Developing such knowledge-based dynamic capabilities will automatically prepare them for the different waves of skill set requirements that will keep arising in the job market. Secondly, it is no secret that we are living in the times of artificial intelligence and automation. So, in this day and age, it is extremely important that graduates learn to ride the wave of automation rather than being discouraged by it. Business graduates are set to contribute to the world with their business acumen and expertise, what they can do to complement it is to develop low-code, no-code skills. Such skills will help graduates to automate routine processes so that their time and energies can be strategically channelized towards those activities and processes that can add significant value to their organizations.
Tongyang Yang Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Economics and Business AnalyticsWidener University
Business/Commerce
What Quality Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tongyang Yang Ph.D.: The rise of AI has brought many opportunities for the professions like business analysts in terms of AI integration. Businesses will need analysts who can bridge the gap between AI and human needs and focus on more strategic areas like identifying ethical considerations of AI implementation, developing plans to mitigate AI bias, and designing human-AI collaboration workflows. For people who are interested in entering this profession, I would suggest adapting your skillset to include AI understanding, data storytelling, and strategic thinking to be well-positioned in the future.
What will help Quality Analysts increase their earning potential?
Thomas Smith PhD: Soft skills (people skills) and critical thinking are both skills that will serve you well throughout your career, and unfortunately, they are areas that receive little focus in most education today. Remember the 'Golden Rule' and learn from your mistakes.
What general advice would you give to a Quality Analyst?
Praneet Tiwari: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is certainly a game-changer that everyone will have to contend with. A basic understanding of AI and automation will be important for all business professionals, as these technologies continue to transform the workplace as we know it. Business graduates with a working knowledge of AI and automation will be better prepared to understand how these technologies can be used to improve business processes and create new opportunities. Get comfortable using the versions of generative AI at our disposal now, and seek to learn more about how they are being used in your workplace. Data analysis and visualization are being used by all industries and job-levels, and is thus another important skill. The ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data will be crucial for making informed decisions in any business role. Business graduates with strong data analysis skills will be well-positioned to solve complex problems and identify new opportunities for their departments and organizations. And finally, while we may be surrounded by more and more technologies, it will be more important than ever to have strong communication and collaboration skills. These are essential for working effectively in teams and building relationships with clients and colleagues. As we use more hybrid and remote working models, it's important to be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with colleagues across the country and the world.
What Quality Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Praneet Tiwari: Maximizing one’s salary potential is a long-term strategy, but the best way is to start out strong by searching for the best for yourself. For instance, companies in high-growth industries often offer more competitive salaries and better opportunities for promotion. If you are okay with a lower base salary but interested in more profit-sharing, then consider startups as they have equity ownership or profit-sharing models which can lead to a higher compensation package in the long run. In any situation, however, be prepared to negotiate. Before entering any salary negotiation, research the typical salary range for your position, location, and experience level. Make sure to practice your negotiation skills and have a clear idea of your desired salary range and the reasons why you deserve it. Focus on the value you bring to the company and highlight your skills. Most universities have a career center or student success center that can help you do mock interviews and negotiations. Once you land the job, make sure to deliver results, volunteer for challenging projects, and exceed expectations. This allows you to seek out raises and promotions quickly. And finally, be prepared to job-hop if needed. Strategic job-hopping may be needed if you find that the job is not a good fit, or the growth trajectory is not what you want.
What general advice would you give to a Quality Analyst?
Terésa Dowell-Vest Ph.D., M.F.A.: The greatest thing I learned starting my adult life was the power of determining a goal and creating a budget for it: Rent for a year, seeing a favorite artist in concert, producing a short film, traveling the world…create a budget and a plan of action, you can do anything you desire.
What will help Quality Analysts increase their earning potential?
Terésa Dowell-Vest Ph.D., M.F.A.: First, I would celebrate them getting to that point. Everything after is going to be challenging and, in some cases…in most cases, difficult to navigate, so boosting their confidence and morale are key to ensuring they see themselves as worthy of success. Second, network! For young people beginning their careers, it is vital to meet other people with similar passions and pursuits. Find your tribe and climb together. Finally, craft a plan. A dream is not a plan. You need to create a BUSINESS PLAN for your life. Establish what your goals are, pare them down to one or two SMART goals, determine who will likely be supporters of your goal, create a brand for yourself (social media, business cards, a personal motto) and determine the resources you’ll need to achieve your goal.
Jasmine Tang
SUNY College at Geneseo
Bilingual, Multilingual, And Multicultural Education
What general advice would you give to a Quality Analyst?
Jasmine Tang: You need to set a goal first then go for it. Also, your first job is not your permanent job. Try to have a break from the school or work before your new job, new school term after the graduation. Be healthy & happy!
What Quality Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jasmine Tang: Be confident of their major/minor or the subject they like and do best of the field they like for themselves not for money or please their parents or fulfill the dream of others.
What general advice would you give to a Quality Analyst?
Matthew Sveum Ph.D.: I don’t think that there is a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. As I said above, building soft skills through internships, and also other experiences like study abroad, clubs, etc, is important to standing out in the workplace. Beyond that, it is important to pick a major that aligns with the career that the student wants, and to then network through internships, talking with guest speakers, etc. But it is also important to remember that the first job is just the starting point, and that promotions or job changes over time will improve their salary and title; they don’t need to jump in to the exact salary and title they eventually want.
What will help Quality Analysts increase their earning potential?
Matthew Sveum Ph.D.: College students should take advantage of the opportunities that college provides them, since many of them aren’t available once they graduate. This would be things like internships, study abroad, or research experience. Internships are great for students to figure out what careers they like – or don’t like. Finding out that they don’t like an industry is much lower cost through an internship than through the first job. Study abroad is also a great way to experience a new country, culture, or language with the help and support of the university. For both study abroad and internships we have staff who help guide students through their full experience.
What will help Quality Analysts increase their earning potential?
Steven Teitelbaum: First, I tell my students to keep in mind Wayne Gretzkey's advice: 'skate to where the puck will be, not where the puck is.' Even if they don't know who Wayne Gretzkey is, they understand what he meant. The hard part, of course, is following that advice, as even his peers in the National Hockey League knew. Keep your head up and looking around, think about what is happening and what might happen next, and go in that direction. Things change, we go through cycles, an idea that is hard to understand if you are young and haven't experienced a cycle, particularly a down cycle. Second, network, network, network. That's where you find out where others think the puck may be now and where it may be going, that's often where you find your next job, that's often where you make friends, and it makes life interesting.
What general advice would you give to a Quality Analyst?
Sunita Goel PhD: Great. Will send you the responses soon. Please let me know the latest deadline by which you need them.
What Quality Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sunita Goel PhD: Great. Will send you the responses soon. Please let me know the latest deadline by which you need them.
What will help Quality Analysts increase their earning potential?
Sunita Goel PhD: Great. Will send you the responses soon. Please let me know the latest deadline by which you need them.
What general advice would you give to a Quality Analyst?
Shauna Downs PhD MS: 3. How can you maximize your salary potential when starting your career in your field?
What will help Quality Analysts increase their earning potential?
Shauna Downs PhD MS: 1. What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career in the field?
What general advice would you give to a Quality Analyst?
Dr. Ryan LaRochelle Ph.D.: Be flexible. Today's job market is not the same as the one that your parents or grandparents entered into. It's unlikely that you'll be with the same company for your entire working career, so look at every experience as a potential opportunity to learn and explore. Also, the work environment you're joining is more important than the job title and position description. Do some research about what it's like to work at the place that is looking to hire you, and don't be afraid to reach out to current employees to get some candid feedback. Your job title and job description is much easier to change or renegotiate over time, but it's really hard to completely transform a toxic organizational culture and environment.
What Quality Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Ryan LaRochelle Ph.D.: Don't be afraid to negotiate. The labor market is incredibly tight at the moment, so employees have more leverage than they've had in decades. Your starting salary and benefits package will be the baseline for any negotiation moving forward, so use the leverage you have now to get the best package you can get. Also, think carefully about how different compensation and benefit packages interact with other factors in the state or region where you're looking to work.
What Quality Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Robert Bentz: The obvious one is artificial intelligence. Many people are concerned that they may be replaced by AI, but nothing can be further from the truth. Those who learn to work with AI are going to be the ones that excel. There's a skill to knowing what you can and can't get from this remarkable new technology.