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Job outlook for quality program managers in the United States
Quality program manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected quality program manager job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 7,100 new jobs for quality program managers are projected over the next decade.
Quality program manager salaries have increased 12% for quality program managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 29,710 quality program managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 146,559 active quality program manager job openings in the US.
The average quality program manager salary is $103,840.
Are quality program manager jobs in demand?
Quality program manager job and salary trends over time
Quality program manager jobs over time
Quality program manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,710 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 27,748 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 28,709 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 28,017 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 26,504 | 0.01% |
Average quality program manager salary over time
Quality program manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $103,840 | $49.92 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $100,681 | $48.40 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $98,677 | $47.44 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $96,004 | $46.16 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $92,720 | $44.58 | +3.4% |
Quality program manager jobs by state
Most common states for quality program managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 549 | 79% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 3,427 | 46% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 478 | 36% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 262 | 35% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 326 | 31% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 295 | 31% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,535 | 28% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 883 | 28% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,206 | 26% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,039 | 25% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,426 | 24% |
| 12 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 858 | 24% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 461 | 24% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 256 | 24% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,292 | 23% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,947 | 22% |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,538 | 22% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 8,202 | 21% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,113 | 21% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 351 | 20% |
Most common cities for quality program managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athens | 1 | 4% | $80,956 |
| 2 | Santa Maria | 2 | 2% | $150,701 |
| 3 | Bentonville | 1 | 2% | $75,163 |
| 4 | Biloxi | 1 | 2% | $85,092 |
| 5 | Bowling Green | 1 | 2% | $87,603 |
| 6 | Carmichael | 1 | 2% | $158,772 |
| 7 | Glendale | 2 | 1% | $143,404 |
| 8 | Oxnard | 2 | 1% | $145,498 |
| 9 | Akron | 1 | 1% | $95,566 |
| 10 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $126,406 |
| 11 | Phoenix | 3 | 0% | $118,249 |
| 12 | Long Beach | 2 | 0% | $141,238 |
| 13 | Oakland | 2 | 0% | $159,194 |
| 14 | Tucson | 2 | 0% | $113,338 |
| 15 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $88,258 |
| 16 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $80,655 |
| 17 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $83,934 |
| 18 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $90,443 |
| 19 | Cincinnati | 1 | 0% | $88,339 |
Quality Program Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of quality program manager experts
Freed-Hardeman University
Swarthmore College
Auburn University at Montgomery
Western Carolina University
Auburn University at Montgomery
Maryville University
Davenport University
Azusa Pacific University
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Quality Program Managers?
Kristen Roberson: The workplace will forever be altered due to the pandemic, and the effects of those in career transitions, not just those graduating now, will be impacted for some time. It will take some time for the new normal to be normal.
What's a day at work look like for a Quality Program Manager?
Kristen Roberson: That depends on the role they are in, but the big hurdle is going to be landing that first role. They need to be willing to shift their plans, be ready to try contract or project-based work. No matter where they land, the ability to self-manage will be more critical than before 2020 since more work will be remote and much more video conferences, and a lot less travel.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Quality Program Managers?
Stephen O'Connell: Recessions are a tough time to enter the job market and we're in the worst recession since the Great Depression. It remains to be seen whether the labor market will bounce back strongly, but it certainly won't bounce back in time to ease the situation of the class of '21 very much. Be ready to be persistent and resilient in your job search.
On the positive side for public policy work, the Trump Administration and the pandemic have left us with immense challenges of resuming normal, evidence-based policymaking and managing recovery from the pandemic. So public policy analysis may be a more robust area of the job market.
What's a good job out of college for Quality Program Managers?
Stephen O'Connell: Work that uses your skills and builds new ones. There is a premium on your own flexibility over the couple of years, with a lot of job-market volatility due to uncertain structural impacts of the pandemic.
Brett Lehman Ph.D.
ProfessorAuburn University at Montgomery
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Quality Program Managers?
Brett Lehman Ph.D.: Sociology students with research and public speaking experience will have improved job prospects. This could be developed in many courses, though some core areas for us are Research Methods and Statistics. Most employers collect and analyze data of some kind. Then they have to organize the results properly and present the findings to a variety of audiences. Any course that require students to do their own projects, make difficult decisions, justify those decisions, and then explain the results give students a leg up in critical thinking skills and much more. Students might also have similar experiences through community service, independent/supervised research projects, or an internship.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Quality Program Managers?
Angela Sebby Ph.D.: While jobs may be slower to return to the capacity pre-Covid, the industry and tourism employment will rebound as people still want to travel and explore diverse foods, cultures, and experiences. However, the enduring impact will be the rapid onset of technology that allowed for limited contact with employees and others has become the new norm. Although human interaction is an important aspect of service in the tourism industry, employers have found that they can reduce the number of personal interactions but still deliver an acceptable level of quality service. What would have taken years to adopt, COVID created an amplified adoption.
What soft skills should all Quality Program Managers possess?
TeWhan Hahn Ph.D.: Writing skills including email writing, being able to work in teams, and knowing the workplace etiquettes.
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.
Program Director & Assistant ProfessorMaryville University
Speech-Language Pathology
What's a day at work look like for a Quality Program Manager?
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.: A bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for three different tracks. First, it can prepare you to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). This is someone who works under a fully credential speech-language pathologist. Often times, they carryout intervention plans developed by a fully credentialed speech-language pathologist. If graduate school is on your horizon, a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders will prepare you for acceptance into a Speech-Language Pathology program, or an Audiology program. If you are not accepted into a graduate program right away, working as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a great way to get experience in the field!
What's a day at work look like for a Quality Program Manager?
Todd Terry: What once was well defined with working hours, an office space, coworkers being close by to develop relationships with seems to be misplaced during the current working environment. In the working situation we are in today, graduates will need to be flexible with working hours as work hours may not be defined and could change by day. Office space may mean that one is working remotely from home. Building of relationships with coworkers will be done using technology as coworkers may be located in many different areas or time zones.
In general business will continue to function remotely. The pandemic has created a sense of creativity in how business is done. The one major component the pandemic has created is where large and small businesses are conducting daily business functions from remote locations. This practice has proven that business can be effectively done without having to travel to distant locations. Consequently, business travel will be continue to be slow.
What's a good job out of college for Quality Program Managers?
Bala Musa Ph.D.: A good job out of college is one that allows you to apply creative and critical thinking skills. Future work environments will require employees to innovate and adapt. Any job that helps you cultivate, sharpen and apply those skills will serve you and your organization well. It will prepare you to adapt in the face of change and future disruptions.