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Quality associate salary
Average quality associate salary
$50,300
Understanding Quality Associate Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Quality Associate is $50,300 per year. This figure can vary widely based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment. For instance, Quality Associates in states with higher living costs, such as California and New York, often see higher salaries compared to those in regions with lower living expenses.
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Entry-level positions might earn around $40,000, while seasoned professionals with specialized skills can command salaries exceeding $60,000 annually. Additionally, industries like pharmaceuticals and aerospace are known for offering competitive compensation packages.
Job seekers can benefit from understanding these dynamics, helping them make informed decisions about their career paths. To maximize earning potential, consider positions that not only offer competitive salaries but also opportunities for advancement and skill development.
Highest Paying Quality Associate Positions
Roles such as Quality Manager or Quality Assurance Specialist typically offer higher salaries and are worth exploring for career advancement. Investigate the job market and salary trends in your area to find the best opportunities.
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Where can a Quality Associate earn more?
Quality associate salary estimates from across the web
Average quality associate salary by state
The highest-paying states for quality associates are Connecticut, Maryland, and California. The lowest average quality associate salary states are Kansas, Delaware, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for quality associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $62,229 | $29.92 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $62,541 | $30.07 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $67,158 | $32.29 |
| 4 | Indiana | $62,039 | $29.83 |
| 5 | Maryland | $65,687 | $31.58 |
| 6 | California | $64,782 | $31.15 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $61,911 | $29.76 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $62,897 | $30.24 |
| 9 | Vermont | $60,133 | $28.91 |
| 10 | Maine | $60,824 | $29.24 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $70,247 | $33.77 |
| 12 | New York | $61,970 | $29.79 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $50,990 | $24.51 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $55,613 | $26.74 |
| 15 | Georgia | $56,476 | $27.15 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $51,088 | $24.56 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $50,367 | $24.21 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $49,688 | $23.89 |
| 19 | Illinois | $51,593 | $24.80 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $47,973 | $23.06 |
| 21 | Virginia | $54,442 | $26.17 |
| 22 | Michigan | $47,615 | $22.89 |
| 23 | Alabama | $49,683 | $23.89 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $51,661 | $24.84 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $47,558 | $22.86 |
| 26 | Washington | $53,961 | $25.94 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $50,298 | $24.18 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $47,009 | $22.60 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $50,634 | $24.34 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $51,546 | $24.78 |
| 31 | Iowa | $47,316 | $22.75 |
| 32 | Arizona | $48,729 | $23.43 |
| 33 | Ohio | $45,725 | $21.98 |
| 34 | Utah | $44,321 | $21.31 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $47,292 | $22.74 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $47,306 | $22.74 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $43,517 | $20.92 |
| 38 | Florida | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $46,013 | $22.12 |
| 40 | Texas | $43,727 | $21.02 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| 42 | Oregon | $42,388 | $20.38 |
| 43 | Delaware | $40,590 | $19.51 |
| 44 | Colorado | $42,673 | $20.52 |
| 45 | Idaho | $43,288 | $20.81 |
| 46 | Montana | $44,432 | $21.36 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $39,716 | $19.09 |
| 48 | Kansas | $41,748 | $20.07 |
| 49 | Missouri | $37,747 | $18.15 |
| 50 | Nevada | $37,796 | $18.17 |
| 51 | Alaska | $33,494 | $16.10 |
Highest paying cities for quality associates
The highest-paying cities for quality associates are San Francisco, CA, Greenville, NC, and Cambridge, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $66,279 | $31.86 |
| 2 | Greenville, NC | $64,027 | $30.78 |
| 3 | Cambridge, MA | $62,887 | $30.23 |
| 4 | Nashua, NH | $62,550 | $30.07 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $62,024 | $29.82 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $61,918 | $29.77 |
| 7 | Fargo, ND | $56,742 | $27.28 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| 9 | Bellevue, WA | $54,230 | $26.07 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $51,724 | $24.87 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $51,506 | $24.76 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $50,758 | $24.40 |
| 13 | Bellevue, NE | $49,909 | $23.99 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,686 | $23.41 |
| 15 | Edison, NJ | $47,539 | $22.86 |
| 16 | La Vergne, TN | $47,092 | $22.64 |
| 17 | Marion, OH | $45,456 | $21.85 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $44,405 | $21.35 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $44,055 | $21.18 |
| 20 | Madison, WI | $43,172 | $20.76 |
Quality associate salary details
A quality associate's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a quality associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $50,300 | $4,192 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying quality associate jobs
The highest paying types of quality associates are quality lead, quality engineer, and quality consultant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auditor/Quality | $35,312 | $2,943 | $16.98 | 77,040 |
| Quality Assurance Auditor | $77,535 | $6,461 | $37.28 | 79,931 |
| Quality Supervisor | $60,486 | $5,041 | $29.08 | 61,400 |
| Quality Inspector | $33,197 | $2,766 | $15.96 | 70,978 |
| Quality Engineer | $79,672 | $6,639 | $38.30 | 96,838 |
| Quality Lead | $90,301 | $7,525 | $43.41 | 62,018 |
Top companies hiring quality associates now:
Which companies pay quality associates the most?
Quality associate salaries at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Genentech are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average quality associate salary at companies like Biogen and Morgan Stanley are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $125,586 | $60.38 |
| 2 | Genentech | $114,174 | $54.89 |
| 3 | Biogen | $113,951 | $54.78 |
| 4 | Morgan Stanley | $113,917 | $54.77 |
| 5 | Eli Lilly and Company | $107,639 | $51.75 |
| 6 | AstraZeneca | $104,843 | $50.41 |
| 7 | Novo Nordisk | $97,358 | $46.81 |
| 8 | Gilead Sciences | $86,654 | $41.66 |
| 9 | Envestnet | $85,937 | $41.32 |
| 10 | Dell | $80,828 | $38.86 |
| 11 | Abbott | $76,392 | $36.73 |
| 12 | Lantheus | $76,122 | $36.60 |
| 13 | Aerojet Rocketdyne | $74,149 | $35.65 |
| 14 | Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc | $72,344 | $34.78 |
| 15 | fathom | $69,946 | $33.63 |
| 16 | Meridian Bioscience | $68,665 | $33.01 |
| 17 | ABB | $67,203 | $32.31 |
| 18 | Sigma-Aldrich | $66,749 | $32.09 |
| 19 | Tesla | $66,747 | $32.09 |
| 20 | American Institutes for Research | $66,328 | $31.89 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Quality associate salary trends
The average quality associate salary has risen by $8,956 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average quality associate earned $41,344 annually, but today, they earn $50,300 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for quality associates over the last decade.
Compare quality associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average quality associate salary over time
Compare quality associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Quality associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,300 | $24.18 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $48,500 | $23.30 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $47,600 | $22.90 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $46,100 | $22.17 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | $44,100 | $21.22 | +1.6% |
Recently added quality associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda Health | Breast Imaging Quality Associate, Breast Quality Program, 08A P | Miami, FL | 06/29/2025 | $33,475 |
| Actalent | Quality Associate I | Sturtevant, WI | 06/29/2025 | $45,914 |
| Baptisthlth | Breast Imaging Quality Associate, Breast Quality Program, 08A P | Miami, FL | 06/29/2025 | $33,475 |
| Baptist Health South Florida | Breast Imaging Quality Associate, Breast Quality Program, 08A P | Miami, FL | 06/28/2025 | $33,475 |
| Fire-Dex | Production & Quality Associate | Oxnard, CA | 06/28/2025 | $35,479 |
| Hill-Rom Manufacturing Usa | Quality Associate II | Batesville, IN | 06/28/2025 | $88,000 |
| Baxter | Quality Associate II | Batesville, IN | 06/27/2025 | $88,000 |
| Hormel Foods Corp | Food Safety and Quality Associate Supervisor | Suffolk, VA | 06/27/2025 | $57,900 |
| Hormel Foods Corp | Food Safety and Quality Associate Supervisor | Austin, MN | 06/27/2025 | $57,900 |
| Pfizer | Associate, Quality Records | Pearl River, NY | 06/26/2025 | $62,700 |
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