How to hire a quality control associate

How to hire a quality control associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step quality control associate 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 control associate job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new quality control associate
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a quality control associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a quality control associate, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A quality control associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, quality control associates from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of quality control associates and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Quality Control Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Quality Control Associate		$12-34
   Chemist	Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter... Show more	$22-43
   Laboratory Analyst	A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.	$14-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • QC
   • GMP
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Qc Testing
   • Test Methods
   • Environmental Monitoring
   • FDA
   • Test Results
   • Lims
   • HPLC
   • Analytical Methods
   • Data Entry
   • USP
   • Endotoxin

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Follow GLP guidelines in the laboratory.
   • Analyze ELISA data in various software programs.
   • Work with CMOs on protocols and reports.
   • Contribute in CAPA and change control and participate in internal audits.
   • Perform internal audits per ISO guidelines and report findings to management.
   • Assist in the implementation of ISO standards in the manufacturing process.

   More quality control associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your quality control associate job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A quality control associate salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a quality control associate in Utah may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level quality control associate usually earns less than a senior-level quality control associate. Additionally, a quality control associate with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average quality control associate salary

   $44,519yearly

   $21.40 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level quality control associate salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average quality control associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$67,251	$32
   2	North Carolina	$63,810	$31
   3	Massachusetts	$61,731	$30
   4	California	$61,440	$30
   5	Maryland	$59,513	$29
   6	Washington	$56,144	$27
   7	Indiana	$48,576	$23
   8	Tennessee	$46,502	$22
   9	New Jersey	$44,985	$22
   10	Ohio	$43,653	$21
   11	Illinois	$43,110	$21
   12	Missouri	$39,281	$19
   13	Colorado	$38,515	$19
   14	Arizona	$38,445	$18
   15	Texas	$37,305	$18
   16	Florida	$35,921	$17

   Average quality control associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Eli Lilly and Company	$90,745	$43.63	36
   2	Boehringer Ingelheim	$82,334	$39.58	5
   3	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$82,028	$39.44	33
   4	Goldman Sachs	$79,920	$38.42
   5	Santander Bank	$79,593	$38.27	1
   6	Synechron	$78,083	$37.54	4
   7	BlackRock	$75,812	$36.45	9
   8	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$74,304	$35.72	89
   9	Biogen	$69,103	$33.22	9
   10	Jefferies	$66,725	$32.08
   11	Battelle	$65,282	$31.39	14
   12	Genentech	$64,413	$30.97	15
   13	Regeneron	$63,672	$30.61	10
   14	Pwc	$63,573	$30.56	200
   15	ABB	$62,523	$30.06	44
   16	Advent Global Solutions	$60,610	$29.14
   17	BioMarin	$60,521	$29.10	3
   18	Duke University Health System	$59,132	$28.43	4
   19	Sharp Decisions	$58,712	$28.23	1
   20	Morgan Stanley	$58,658	$28.20	15

4. Writing a quality control associate job description

   A good quality control associate job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a quality control associate job description:

   Quality control associate job description example

   This individual will support quality control activities conducted both internally and at the Contract Test Laboratories (CTLs). The individual will be responsible for reviewing release and stability data, writing technical reports, supporting analytical method validation and qualification activities conducted at the CTLs. This individual will assist in transferring assays to and from domestic and overseas vendors and monitoring, compiling and reviewing data. The individual will also assist in managing quality events, data trending, review of quality documents originated at the testing laboratories as well as internally at Sarepta. All aspects of this position would involve working in a GMP compliant manner.
   Primary Responsibilities Include:
   Review LC, LC/MS, GC, KF and other general laboratory data generated per cGMP for release and stability samples.Assist in writing and reviewing quality documents such as test methods, SOP, OOS/OOT and CAPA originated internally as well as at the vendor sites.Assist in transferring assays to and from vendor sites and their troubleshooting.Monitor, review and trending of stability data.Manage activities related to reference standard qualification and supply to external sites.Assist in writing validation protocols, reviewing validation reports for LC, LC/MS, GC and other analytical methods.Execution of laboratory experiments, review of analytical data and authorization of final reports.
   
   Desired Education and Skills:
   BS with 0-2 years' experience in Chemistry or related science field. With appropriate experience this requirement may be waived.Experience with QC release of DS and DP and conducting stability studies in a cGMP environment is a plus.Experience with laboratory equipment operation namely HPLC, GC, LC-MS, KF, pH and an understanding of CCIT, Microbiological testing.Attention to details is a must.Strong organizational skills.Effective written and verbal communication skills.Operate independently or as a part of a team, experience training individuals in a laboratory environment.Experience in working with contract test lab is highly desired.Position may require some travel.
   
   Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S.
   Sarepta Therapeutics offers a competitive compensation and benefit package.
   Sarepta Therapeutics is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and participates in e-Verify.
   
   #LI-JL1

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right quality control associate for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your quality control associate job on Zippia to find and recruit quality control associate 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 control associates, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 control associate

   Once you have selected a candidate for the quality control associate position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new quality control associate first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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