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How to hire a quality assurance inspector

Quality assurance inspector hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring quality assurance inspectors in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a quality assurance inspector is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new quality assurance inspector to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a quality assurance inspector, step by step

To hire a quality assurance inspector, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a quality assurance inspector:

Here's a step-by-step quality assurance inspector hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a quality assurance inspector job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new quality assurance inspector
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a quality assurance inspector do?

Quality Assurance Auditors are employees who ensure the adherence of other employees to company processes and guidelines. They are expected to be experts on quality assurance processes and procedures. They also have in-depth knowledge of the expected outcomes of such processes to ensure that the company only provides quality products and services. Quality assurance auditors are also familiar with regulatory laws and policies of governing bodies that oversee companies in their particular industry. They ensure that their companies are compliant and may conduct random quality checks every now and then.

Learn more about the specifics of what a quality assurance inspector does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the quality assurance inspector you need to hire. Certain quality assurance inspector roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a quality assurance inspector to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a quality assurance inspector that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of quality assurance inspector salaries for various roles:

    Type of Quality Assurance InspectorDescriptionHourly rate
    Quality Assurance InspectorQuality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.$12-23
    Test OperatorThe job of a test operator is to test the functionality of electronic components, assemblies, units, parts, and systems in a manner consistent with standard procedures. As a test operator, you will perform a variety of duties that include working with engineers to ensure accurate procedures are being followed, perform different mechanical assembly operations, and inspecting products for the correct orientation and placement... Show more$12-23
    Inspector GeneralAn inspector general is responsible for doing audit reports and inspections to ensure that no possible fraud, misconduct, corruption, or power abuse in the government or private sector occurs. Their role is to monitor and inspect the agencies' effectiveness, assess possible mismanagement of a company, and improve the economy... Show more$14-35
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Calipers
    • Micrometers
    • Corrective Action
    • Safety Standards
    • Inspection Reports
    • Quality Standards
    • Basic Math
    • GMP
    • ISO
    • Inspection Procedures
    • Math
    • Product Quality
    • Quality Issues
    • Engineering Drawings
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Coordinate joint surveys with SATORP inspectors and manage clearance of all issue active LBE and NCR.
    • Work with IPC and ISO regulations.
    • Examine parts for damage or excessive wear using micrometers and gauges and other specialize test equipment.
    • Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as rulers, calipers or micrometers.
    • Inspect and measure surgical steel medical devices for critical dimensions, checking tolerance using micrometers and calipers reading from blueprint designs.
    • Qualify coating systems and painters to ASTM standards.
    More quality assurance inspector duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the quality assurance inspector job description is a good way to get more applicants. A quality assurance inspector salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a quality assurance inspector in Arkansas may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level quality assurance inspector. Additionally, a quality assurance inspector with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average quality assurance inspector salary

    $36,842yearly

    $17.71 hourly rate

    Entry-level quality assurance inspector salary
    $27,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 27, 2025

    Average quality assurance inspector salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$51,087$25
    2Louisiana$44,028$21
    3Virginia$43,741$21
    4New Jersey$43,488$21
    5Minnesota$42,239$20
    6Maryland$41,764$20
    7Pennsylvania$41,614$20
    8Oregon$40,278$19
    9New York$39,242$19
    10California$39,207$19
    11Colorado$38,774$19
    12Missouri$36,968$18
    13Kansas$35,889$17
    14Illinois$34,678$17
    15Texas$34,586$17
    16Florida$34,369$17
    17Michigan$33,520$16
    18Tennessee$32,967$16
    19North Carolina$32,816$16
    20Alabama$30,264$15

    Average quality assurance inspector salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Los Alamos National Laboratory$60,882$29.2714
    2Battelle$59,054$28.394
    3Hill International$55,722$26.7919
    4Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc$54,271$26.091
    5CLEAResult$53,880$25.90
    6Halliburton$53,682$25.811
    7Jacobs Engineering Group$53,012$25.49
    8Veritas Health Services Inc$52,421$25.20
    9Sensata$52,274$25.13
    10STV Group$52,272$25.1314
    11FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies$51,778$24.8910
    12Oscor$51,491$24.76
    13Amphastar Pharmaceuticals$51,467$24.74
    14BD$50,786$24.4212
    15FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA$50,633$24.3430
    16Compunetix$50,342$24.202
    17Intertek$50,218$24.1454
    18Fluor Corporation$49,405$23.7525
    19FuelCell Energy$48,987$23.55
    20Tiffany & Co.$48,899$23.515
  4. Writing a quality assurance inspector job description

    A job description for a quality assurance inspector role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a quality assurance inspector job description:

    Quality assurance inspector job description example

    1. Inspect first articles, in-process parts, and products prior to shipment using gauges, coordinate measuring machine, optical comparators, and vision.

    2. Generate spreadsheets for data collection.

    3. Generate first article inspection reports

    4. Reconcile final inspection documentation for shipments.

    5. Test incoming raw materials.

    6. Use precision measuring instruments including micrometers, calipers, fixtures and gauges to check work and perform detailed inspection of parts produced.

    7. Read Instrumentation and gauges to accurately measure dimensions on parts being machined within specified tolerance.

    8. Wear proper safety equipment and comply with company safety rules at all times.

    Qualifications

    1. High school diploma or GED.

    2. Minimum of two years’ experience as a quality inspector.

    3. Ability to read and interpret blueprints.

    4. Able to understand the commonly used standards, codes, and industry practices.

    6. Training in general safety awareness and practices.

    5. Working knowledge of standard testing tools using calipers & micrometers, depth gauges, optical comparators, and CMM.

    6. Ability to fluently read and write English, comprehend and follow verbal and written instructions.

    7. Intermediate to advanced shop math.

    8. Proficient using a PC in a Windows environment.

    9. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular Microsoft Excel.

    Preferred Education and Experience

    1. Associate’s degree in a technical field.

    2. Quality system awareness.

    3. Knowledge of ISO a plus.

    Other Duties

    • Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

    Work Environment:

    This position works in a warehouse setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines, and standard warehouse equipment such as forklifts, hand trucks, box cutters and tape dispensers.

    Physical Demands:

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move items over 50 pounds. Items in excess of 50 pounds will need to lift with team techniques or use of proper equipment.



    We are looking forward to hearing from you.

  5. Post your job

    To find quality assurance inspectors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any quality assurance inspectors they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level quality assurance inspectors with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your quality assurance inspector job on Zippia to find and recruit quality assurance inspector candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit quality assurance inspectors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new quality assurance inspector

    Once you've found the quality assurance inspector candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a quality assurance inspector?

There are different types of costs for hiring quality assurance inspectors. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new quality assurance inspector employee.

Quality assurance inspectors earn a median yearly salary is $36,842 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find quality assurance inspectors for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $12 and $23.

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