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A Quality Control-Associate Scientist plays a vital role in the field of scientific research and product development. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $77,890 per year. Factors influencing salary include geographical location, years of experience, and industry sector. For instance, states like California and Massachusetts offer higher salary ranges due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
In addition to geographic influences, experience significantly impacts earning potential. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with several years in the field can command higher salaries. Educational qualifications, such as a master’s degree or specialized certifications, can also enhance job prospects and salary expectations.
Regarding job opportunities, metropolitan areas often provide the best earning potential due to the concentration of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Exploring specific industries, such as biotechnology or food science, may reveal additional lucrative positions within the quality control sector. In summary, becoming a Quality Control-Associate Scientist offers competitive salaries and room for growth, making it an appealing career choice for aspiring scientists.
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The average quality control-associate scientist salary in California, New Hampshire, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average quality control-associate scientist salary states are Delaware, Utah, and Kansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $101,922 | $49.00 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $94,345 | $45.36 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $90,856 | $43.68 |
| 4 | California | $102,069 | $49.07 |
| 5 | Vermont | $95,432 | $45.88 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $87,105 | $41.88 |
| 7 | Virginia | $87,704 | $42.17 |
| 8 | New York | $90,848 | $43.68 |
| 9 | Maine | $96,534 | $46.41 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $77,027 | $37.03 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $86,968 | $41.81 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $104,318 | $50.15 |
| 13 | Maryland | $84,459 | $40.61 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $73,595 | $35.38 |
| 15 | Washington | $93,074 | $44.75 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $75,823 | $36.45 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $75,549 | $36.32 |
| 18 | Indiana | $72,218 | $34.72 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $85,608 | $41.16 |
| 20 | Texas | $74,315 | $35.73 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $71,336 | $34.30 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $72,128 | $34.68 |
| 23 | Michigan | $71,970 | $34.60 |
| 24 | Ohio | $72,109 | $34.67 |
| 25 | Montana | $75,068 | $36.09 |
| 26 | Idaho | $72,771 | $34.99 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $77,836 | $37.42 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| 29 | Oregon | $70,633 | $33.96 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $69,758 | $33.54 |
| 31 | Georgia | $70,425 | $33.86 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $69,092 | $33.22 |
| 33 | Arizona | $71,414 | $34.33 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $71,465 | $34.36 |
| 35 | Illinois | $67,969 | $32.68 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $70,285 | $33.79 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $69,513 | $33.42 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $61,506 | $29.57 |
| 39 | Delaware | $60,540 | $29.11 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $69,576 | $33.45 |
| 41 | Colorado | $68,922 | $33.14 |
| 42 | Utah | $59,594 | $28.65 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $68,452 | $32.91 |
| 44 | Alaska | $67,525 | $32.46 |
| 45 | Iowa | $67,103 | $32.26 |
| 46 | Alabama | $67,460 | $32.43 |
| 47 | Nevada | $60,784 | $29.22 |
| 48 | Missouri | $53,674 | $25.80 |
| 49 | Kansas | $57,126 | $27.46 |
| 50 | Florida | $55,865 | $26.86 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $54,366 | $26.14 |
The highest-paying cities for quality control-associate scientists are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and New Haven, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $112,318 | $54.00 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $93,747 | $45.07 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $90,960 | $43.73 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | $85,802 | $41.25 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $85,620 | $41.16 |
| 6 | Frederick, MD | $84,300 | $40.53 |
| 7 | Sanford, NC | $77,564 | $37.29 |
| 8 | Bloomington, IN | $70,782 | $34.03 |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $69,018 | $33.18 |
| 10 | Logan, UT | $58,749 | $28.24 |
| 11 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $56,496 | $27.16 |
A quality control-associate scientist's salary ranges from $52,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $115,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $115,000 | $9,583 | $55 |
| 75th Percentile | $95,000 | $7,917 | $46 |
| Average | $77,890 | $6,491 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
The highest paying types of quality control-associate scientists are senior quality control analyst, quality control scientist, and quality assurance scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Analyst | $44,024 | $3,669 | $21.17 | 44,074 |
| Analytical Chemist | $61,573 | $5,131 | $29.60 | 14,661 |
| Quality Control Internship | $35,224 | $2,935 | $16.93 | 127,264 |
| Quality Control | $32,824 | $2,735 | $15.78 | 83,496 |
| Quality Control Coordinator | $49,894 | $4,158 | $23.99 | 88,145 |
| Quality Control Analyst | $59,217 | $4,935 | $28.47 | 85,546 |
Top companies hiring quality control-associate scientists now:
Quality control-associate scientist salaries at AbbVie and Bristol-Myers Squibb are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average quality control-associate scientist salary at companies like Genentech and AstraZeneca are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AbbVie | $108,822 | $52.32 |
| 2 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $106,770 | $51.33 |
| 3 | Genentech | $104,671 | $50.32 |
| 4 | AstraZeneca | $104,130 | $50.06 |
| 5 | Alexion Pharmaceuticals | $97,223 | $46.74 |
| 6 | Eclaro | $83,702 | $40.24 |
| 7 | Yoh | $81,256 | $39.07 |
| 8 | Integrated Resources | $80,122 | $38.52 |
| 9 | PTC Therapeutics | $79,530 | $38.24 |
| 10 | Perrigo | $75,542 | $36.32 |
| 11 | Abbott | $73,030 | $35.11 |
| 12 | Catalent Pharma Solutions | $73,025 | $35.11 |
| 13 | Gilead Sciences | $71,861 | $34.55 |
| 14 | Glaxosmithkline | $71,846 | $34.54 |
| 15 | Ricerca Biosciences | $71,777 | $34.51 |
| 16 | Medimmune | $71,247 | $34.25 |
| 17 | Eurofins | $70,406 | $33.85 |
| 18 | HonorVet Technologies | $70,176 | $33.74 |
| 19 | Lyndra Therapeutics | $68,749 | $33.05 |
| 20 | Sirnaomics | $67,821 | $32.61 |
The average quality control-associate scientist salary has risen by $13,868 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average quality control-associate scientist earned $64,022 annually, but today, they earn $77,890 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for quality control-associate scientists over the last decade.
Compare quality control-associate scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare quality control-associate scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $77,900 | $37.45 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $75,100 | $36.08 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $73,700 | $35.46 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $71,400 | $34.33 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $68,400 | $32.86 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LGC Ltd. | Associate Scientist I, Quality Control-CMC Analytical-Day Shift | Petaluma, CA | 06/26/2025 | $58,686 |
| LGC Axolabs | Associate Scientist I, Quality Control-CMC Analytical-Day Shift | Petaluma, CA | 06/26/2025 | $58,686 |
| Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. | Associate Scientist, QC Raw Materials | Severn, MD | 06/13/2025 | $58,240 |
| Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals | Associate Scientist, Quality Control | Verona, WI | 06/12/2025 | $65,000 |
| Pfizer | Quality Control Associate Scientist, Microbiology | Sanford, NC | 05/24/2025 | $66,500 |
| Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. | Associate Scientist, QC Microbiology | Severn, MD | 05/09/2025 | $58,240 |
| Gilead Sciences | Associate Scientist-Quality Control Biologics (Clinical Analytical Operations) | Foster City, CA | 04/29/2025 | $102,085 |
| Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals | Associate Scientist, Quality Control | Verona, WI | 04/28/2025 | $65,000 |
| Catalent Pharma Solutions | Associate Scientist, QC Microbiology | Severn, MD | 04/23/2025 | $58,240 |
| Actalent | Associate Scientist, Quality Control | Frederick, MD | 03/27/2025 | $62,610 |
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