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What is a quality control analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Betsy Smith
introduction image

A quality control analyst ensures that products meet certain quality standards. They conduct tests and inspections on products throughout the manufacturing process. A quality control analyst identifies areas for improvement in the production process. They work closely with production teams to address issues and implement changes to improve product quality. A quality control analyst must have strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and knowledge of industry regulations and standards.

What general advice would you give to a quality control analyst?

Dr. Betsy SmithDr. Betsy Smith LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.
ScoreQuality Control AnalystUS Average
Salary
4.6

Avg. Salary $59,217

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.6

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%

Asian 12.81%

Black or African American 9.49%

Hispanic or Latino 16.78%

Unknown 6.17%

White 53.70%

Gender

female 54.27%

male 45.73%

Age - 35
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35
Stress level
5.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a quality control analyst?

Pros

  • Chance to work in a variety of industries

  • Potential for advancement within the company

  • Competitive salary, benefits, and job security

  • Satisfaction of contributing to the success of a company

  • Ability to work independently and manage time effectively

Cons

  • Can be repetitive and monotonous work

  • May require long hours, including nights and weekends

  • Can be stressful due to pressure to meet deadlines and maintain quality standards

  • May require working in noisy or hazardous environments

  • Can be physically demanding, including long periods of standing and heavy lifting

Quality control analyst career paths

Key steps to become a quality control analyst

  1. Explore quality control analyst education requirements

    Most common quality control analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.4 %

    Associate

    11.7 %

    Master's

    9.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific quality control analyst skills

    SkillsPercentages
    QC12.61%
    Lab Equipment4.80%
    Microbiology4.36%
    Test Methods3.50%
    HPLC3.44%
  3. Complete relevant quality control analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New quality control analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a quality control analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real quality control analyst resumes.
  4. Research quality control analyst duties and responsibilities

    • SAP, Trackwise and outlook manage.
    • Approve QC laboratory data ensuring correct GLP and GMP guidelines are follow and validate procedures are utilize.
    • Train and assist junior chemist to ensure completion of all testing on HPLC, GC, and UPLC.
    • Detect unknown concentrations of metals and toluene in waste water by AA and GC with purge and trap attachments.
  5. Prepare your quality control analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your quality control analyst resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a quality control analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable quality control analyst resume templates

    Build a professional quality control analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your quality control analyst resume.
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    Quality Control Analyst Resume
  6. Apply for quality control analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a quality control analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first quality control analyst job

Zippi

Are you a quality control analyst?

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Average quality control analyst salary

The average quality control analyst salary in the United States is $59,217 per year or $28 per hour. Quality control analyst salaries range between $40,000 and $86,000 per year.

Average quality control analyst salary
$59,217 Yearly
$28.47 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do quality control analysts rate their job?

-/5

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Quality control analyst reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

Fabric checking and find out the problem

Cons

I did not like work with proper guide line


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

Ingenuity and the fast paced environment while critical thinking to solve the problems.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Pros

Doing something different everyday

Cons

Trying to find more training to move up. There isn't to many sites you can go on to get properly trained.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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