Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for senior quality control analysts in the United States
Senior quality control analyst job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior quality control analyst job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 5,700 new jobs for senior quality control analysts are projected over the next decade.
Senior quality control analyst salaries have increased 14% for senior quality control analysts in the last 5 years.
There are over 12,875 senior quality control analysts currently employed in the United States.
There are 83,746 active senior quality control analyst job openings in the US.
The average senior quality control analyst salary is $86,499.
Are senior quality control analyst jobs in demand?
Senior quality control analyst job and salary trends over time
Senior quality control analyst jobs over time
Senior quality control analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,875 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 12,855 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 13,296 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 13,494 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 13,830 | 0.00% |
Average senior quality control analyst salary over time
Senior quality control analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $86,499 | $41.59 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $83,349 | $40.07 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $81,898 | $39.37 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $79,293 | $38.12 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | $75,913 | $36.50 | +1.6% |
Senior quality control analyst jobs by state
Most common states for senior quality control analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 262 | 38% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 348 | 26% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,039 | 19% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 178 | 19% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,561 | 18% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,114 | 18% |
| 7 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,054 | 16% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 505 | 16% |
| 9 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,583 | 15% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 113 | 15% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,443 | 14% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,238 | 14% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 947 | 14% |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 815 | 14% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 805 | 14% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 506 | 14% |
| 17 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 433 | 14% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 272 | 14% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 150 | 14% |
| 20 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,257 | 13% |
Most common cities for senior quality control analysts
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | 2 | 6% | $86,370 |
| 2 | Cambridge | 6 | 5% | $86,416 |
| 3 | Woburn | 2 | 5% | $86,344 |
| 4 | Framingham | 3 | 4% | $86,449 |
| 5 | Newark | 1 | 2% | $99,600 |
| 6 | Saginaw | 1 | 2% | $78,645 |
| 7 | Germantown | 1 | 1% | $96,478 |
| 8 | High Point | 1 | 1% | $95,412 |
| 9 | South San Francisco | 1 | 1% | $99,921 |
| 10 | Tustin | 1 | 1% | $92,219 |
| 11 | Fort Worth | 2 | 0% | $77,531 |
| 12 | Buffalo | 1 | 0% | $104,392 |
| 13 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $83,654 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $92,617 |
| 15 | Philadelphia | 1 | 0% | $78,493 |
| 16 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $113,189 |
Senior Quality Control Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior quality control analyst experts
California State University - East Bay
Northern Kentucky University
Brigham Young University
Northern Kentucky University
Southwestern College
University of Illinois at Springfield
College of Idaho
SUNY at Albany
Ohio University Southern
Wake Forest University
University of Utah
Meredith College
Boston College
Point Loma Nazarene University
Harding University
Methodist University
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Control Analyst?
Aurora Clark: BS level Chemists can be employed in a variety of roles that leverage their scientific knowledge, laboratory and analytical thinking skills. As technicians in companies or government organizations they may be responsible for sample collection and analysis – for example water quality. They may also work in R&D; in industry as part of larger teams doing development of new materials or devices. On a daily basis this may include testing of different properties of materials under development or helping to design new experimental protocols/procedures to optimize synthesis or characterization. Leveraging their fundamental knowledge of Chemistry they may also work in government within interdisciplinary groups, in science policy, or may pursue science communication.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Control Analyst?
Monika Sommerhalter: Know your worth and look for opportunities to grow. Set yourself professional goals, whether it is a large goal (such as getting a promotion) or smaller goals (attending a workshop to master a new skill) on an ongoing basis. Keep your resume up-to-date so that it is easier for you to apply for new job opportunities within or outside of your company.
What Senior Quality Control Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Monika Sommerhalter: Expand and take care of your professional network throughout your career. Start by keeping in touch with your peers and mentors from university. Personal connections can help you find more job openings and professional development opportunities. If you surround yourself with a supportive professional network, your career path will also feel more rewarding.
What Senior Quality Control Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Isabelle Lagadic Ph.D.: I’ve met employers asking me if I could teach my students basic skills like “being on time”, “writing a proper email”, “clearly and carefully documenting their work”, “using critical thinking to stop a recording or an experiment when it is obvious that it is not working”. Those very basic skills that everyone takes for granted in addition of basic technical skills are going to become the most prevalent in the coming years. What’s scary is the collision between the inevitable advancement of Ai in this field and this lack of basic skills. It is difficult to train people on tomorrow’s skills if they don’t already master today’s skills.
What will help Senior Quality Control Analysts increase their earning potential?
Isabelle Lagadic Ph.D.: To expect a significant difference between the academic place and the workplace in terms of the work expectations, time management, independent work, having to take initiatives, etc. Many chemistry (or science majors in general) graduates think that their degree prepared them well for a job and are both disappointed and overwhelmed when they are confronted with the reality of the workplace. Not that starting at an entry level in this field is complicated, but because they haven’t been taught the skills, both technical and soft, to feel comfortable in the workplace.
What will help Senior Quality Control Analysts increase their earning potential?
Konstantinos Vogiatzis: It’s hard to respond to this question, since chemical technology is exciting in any aspect! The chemical elements are the alphabet of a chemist, and the decillion of different combinations between them form an enormous chemical space that needs to be explored for the discovery of new, fascinating molecular structures. Modern AI is actively helping the chemist to navigate the molecular space. Some people (like me!) dislike the laborious chemical synthesis, but for others this is the true beauty of our discipline.
Dr. Jaron Hansen
Professor and ChairBrigham Young University
Chemistry
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Control Analyst?
Dr. Jaron Hansen: Likes: Intellectual Challenge, Contributing to Society, Variety of Career Opportunities, Hands-On Laboratory Work, Collaboration and Teamwork. Dislikes: Repetitive or Mundane Work, Pressure to Produce Results, Limited Funding and Job Instability.
What will help Senior Quality Control Analysts increase their earning potential?
Patrick Hare: Facility with using and interpreting AI results is an obvious growing need. Many of those skills are just applied analytical and critical thinking. The trick will be to do the applying and keep them fresh. Understanding how the systems work will also be useful.
What Senior Quality Control Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
David Hecht Ph.D.: Not sure- with a solid chemistry bkg and training, graduates should be equipped to learn and adapt as needed. Soft skills are VERY important and need to be developed.
Changqing Chen Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Control Analyst?
Changqing Chen Ph.D.: 1. Analytical skills and communication skills will become more important since they are harder to be replaced by AI. 2. If interested, try to learn some information on AI and machine learning, which will be used more in chemistry in the near future on design and synthesis of new molecules/materials, environmental chemistry, green chemistry, and chemistry education.
What Senior Quality Control Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Changqing Chen Ph.D.: 1. A chemistry degree provides many opportunities for a wide variety of careers. Jobs can be found in big chemical or pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, small startup companies, as well as educational institutions. Sometimes, if you think outside the box, you can find other opportunities, such as some non-lab jobs (sales, technical support, consulting firms, etc.). If it is hard to find a permanent job you like, start with a temporary position, which might turn into a permanent position if your performance is excellent. 2. You do not need to match exactly what you learned in college with your job responsibilities. Be ready to apply the problem-solving skills you learned in new field/project. 3. Be curious, always eager to learn new skills/knowledge. 4. Be honest, learn from your mistakes.
What will help Senior Quality Control Analysts increase their earning potential?
Changqing Chen Ph.D.: Try to develop some business skills on product marketing and sales. Try to apply your scientific and engineering skills to business and become an all-around player.
Marc Klingshirn Ph.D.
Associate Professor of ChemistryUniversity of Illinois at Springfield
Chemistry
What Senior Quality Control Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Marc Klingshirn Ph.D.: People are drawn to science for various reasons, but many enjoy science-related fields due to the discovery aspect. Science continually to leads to new questions and subsequent answers that help us understand the world around us, which can be exciting. At the same time, that discovery leads to constant change, which can lead to frustration. We tend to like clear-cut answers that are black and white. That doesn't always happen in science. That ambiguity then has tendencies to make those outside of the profession question the validity of science, which in turn is frustrating to those who are actively engaged because they feel their work is deemed false.
What will help Senior Quality Control Analysts increase their earning potential?
Marc Klingshirn Ph.D.: This will obviously depend on the job itself, but if we consider a recent graduate with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, they will most likely be performing routine sample analysis using established protocols and procedures. Relevant data analysis will also most likely be required. Following necessary safety procedures and environmental guidelines will also be essential as some materials may be hazardous and because of relevant environmental regulations and handling needs.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Control Analyst?
Bonnie Cantrell: Chemistry is the backbone to most protocols for the material, medical, and biological sciences.
Without chemistry, we would not know many of the things we know today. It will always be relevant in
helping change the scientific world as we know it. The advancements in science technology alone makes
chemistry today more exciting than ever. Just with balances from 1980's to now, we went from only
being able to weigh with counter balance weights to having a digital scale read accurately to 0.001
milligrams. Chemistry used to be more theoretical and only explainable from what we could make react
together. Now we have technology that can visualize the chemical composition and structure allowing
for us to create solutions to problems we could only dream of before. Whether you are wanting danger,
to save lives, or to help make this planet a better place to live, being a chemist can help you fuel your
passions.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Control Analyst?
Dr. Kevin Francis: I am a firm believer that if you love your job you will never work a day in your life, so feel this
should not be the primary goal. Many of those I was in school with make triple or even more
than my salary but have expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs. Some have switched jobs
multiple times due to this dissatisfaction. At the same time, if you have invested in your
education and training you should at least make a living wage.
In Chemistry at least a Master's degree is needed for most decent paying jobs. I encourage
students not to fear graduate schools and remain confident. Apply to those offering intership
opportunities or other on the job trainings. Many of our graduate students complete these during
the summer. Many of the internships lead to good jobs in those companies upon graduation.
It is more important to enjoy your job though than to get paid a lot to do it.
What Senior Quality Control Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kevin Francis: The use of Artificial Intelligence. This is, in fact, bringing me some of the anxiety mentioned
above because at present I am almost completely ignorant of ChatGPT. I am therefore attending
workshops and trainings to learn more about AI. It is being clear that it will be increasingly used
and holds great potential for data mining and many of the "-omics" that are critical for
Biochemical research. Critical thinking will remain a tool that must be developed but I believe
the field will rely more and more on AI as time goes on.
Alan Chen Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept of Chemistry & the RNA Institute, University at AlbanySUNY at Albany
Chemistry
What Senior Quality Control Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alan Chen Ph.D.: Our most successful students start research no later than sophomore year and many opt for our 5-year combined BS/MS track. These students outcompete BS-level applicants for entry-level jobs, and start at higher salary and responsibility levels as many companies will count time in graduate school as "prior experience". The MS degree is particularly versatile as it can also be earned part-time by current employees looking to advance, and unlike the PhD does not over-qualify you for the vast majority of entry level chemist positions. MS degrees typically enable early-career chemists to move up the ranks into management or team-leader positions after a few years. They are also a possible way for recent grads who were unable to get a job due to lack of research experience in undergrad, to get that crucial research experience during their MS thesis, and possibly even upgrade-in-place to our PhD program if they are doing really well. Basically, there seems to be no drawback to getting an MS in Chemistry at a research-intensive university for the vast majority of scientific career tracks.
Kyle Kemats Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of InstructionOhio University Southern
Chemistry Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Quality Control Analysts?
Kyle Kemats Ph.D.: As I mentioned in question 1, training/experience on various instruments is the most important for industry/research jobs. For teaching positions, experience with different pedagogical/education techniques will be helpful for a potential candidate.
Brian Mendenhall
Associate Director and Career CoachWake Forest University
Office of Personal and Career Development
What skills stand out on Senior Quality Control Analyst resumes?
Brian Mendenhall: Two things that stand out for me, regardless of whether the person is seeking employment in research or industry, are data analysis (Excel, Python, R) and presentation skills. Research specific skills would also include experimental design and specific relevant laboratory techniques & equipment experience.
What soft skills should all Senior Quality Control Analysts possess?
Brian Mendenhall: In the past, the most important attributes have been leadership and problem-solving skills. If the pandemic has taught us anything, the most important attribute is the ability to work with others and get along in multiple virtual and in-person environments. The rest seem elementary and are all dependent on each other. To work well on a team, you need to problem-solve, both on the topic and on how to share information. To solve problems, you need to be analytical and quantitative. Certainly, to do this well, you need to communicate across diverse audiences and levels of understanding. The National Association of Colleges and Employers surveys employers on these priorities and updates the results frequently. (see below for your reference)
Ability to work in a team 81.0%
Problem-solving skills 79.0%
Analytical/quantitative skills 76.1%
Communication skills (verbal) 73.2%
Communication skills (written)
https://www.naceweb.org/about-us/press/the-key-attributes-employers-seek-on-college-graduates-resumes/
What skills will help Senior Quality Control Analysts earn the most?
Brian Mendenhall: One very important skill that will help you achieve the most is emotional intelligence, knowing yourself and your environment, how your colleagues and team receive and deliver information most effectively. Sensing the culture, fit, the timing of the environment, and how the organization develops/awards employees can be pivotal for growth. Eventually, having enough EQ and experience to manage a team and maintain momentum will help you get to the top.
Shelley Minteer Ph.D.
Dale and Susan Poulter Endowed Chair in Biological Chemistry, Associate Chair of ChemistryUniversity of Utah
Department Of Chemistry
What skills stand out on Senior Quality Control Analyst resumes?
Shelley Minteer Ph.D.: The skills that stand out are research experience, characterization instrumentation experience, and more recently, data science experience and coding experience, as machine learning and AI become more and more important in chemistry.
What soft skills should all Senior Quality Control Analysts possess?
Shelley Minteer Ph.D.: The most important soft skills are communication and people management skills. It is critical to be strong in both oral and written communication.
Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Director of Dual Degree EngineeringMeredith College
Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Geoscience
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Control Analyst?
Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.: Chemistry graduates should be open minded, and ready to absorb and use information. They should be confident in themselves, and since they're still learning, they should not hesitate to ask for help and advice. If students haven't learned how to fail, they should go into a career ready for potential failures, and they will need to be ready to handle failures and move on.
What Senior Quality Control Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.: Having hands-on experience through research, internships, and working with instruments can make a candidate more attractive to employers. Pursuing a Master's or Ph.D. degree can also lead to a higher starting salary, although the job opportunities may differ based on the level of education.
What will help Senior Quality Control Analysts increase their earning potential?
Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.: Using automation and AI are becoming more important to do more with less people and less time. Working in interdisciplinary teams where you are the only expert in your field, and you will need to communicate to others who may not understand the content on the same level as you.
Dunwei Wang Ph.D.
Margaret A & Thomas A Vanderslice Chair in Chemistry, Professor of Chemistry, Chairperson of Chemistry DepartmentBoston College
Chemistry Department
What soft skills should all Senior Quality Control Analysts possess?
Dunwei Wang Ph.D.: Problem-solving skills. When presented with a problem, knowing where to go to find information to solve it.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Quality Control Analysts?
Dunwei Wang Ph.D.: Chemistry is a diverse field. As a foundational discipline, it enables several sub-fields and supports emerging new fields. As one example, our graduates become experts in medical research, health care, and scientists and engineers in many other fields. Depending on the different career goals, what is important can be drastically different. Generally speaking, doing bench work (either in the lab or on a computer) should be a good skill to have at graduation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Quality Control Analysts?
Dr. Matthieu Rouffet Ph.D.: We have tried to avoid that as much as possible. Still, we know that for one semester (Fall 2020), students did not acquire many hands-on skills in chemistry courses because everything was done remotely. We are not quite sure if this will have an enduring impact on graduates as we have tried to play "catch up" this semester, but it may well have. Another aspect to consider, in my opinion, is the increased level of stress, anxiety, and depression linked to isolation which might also impact our graduates.
What technical skills for a Senior Quality Control Analyst stand out to employers?
Dr. Matthieu Rouffet Ph.D.: Our PLNU graduates have a lot of hands-on experience (most courses have a lab component, and many of our students do summer research with a faculty member for two summers allowing them to spend over 800 hours in a lab), so employers regularly comment on the fact that they are ready to go from day one.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Quality Control Analyst job market given the pandemic?
Dennis Province Ph.D.: Trends indicate that the job market is definitely going digital. Virtual interviews and job fairs are much more common now.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Control Analyst?
Dennis Province Ph.D.: You never know where you will end up later in life and what skills you will need in the future. Open your mind and become a lifelong learner. Be a student of life and learn from others at every step of the journey. Employers are always looking for workers that show initiative. Decide where you want to work and what you think you might want to do and have the courage to contact someone, and let them know! Most jobs or opportunities are found and decided with an informal conversation. Employers want the best people and those tend to be type that take the initiative.
Stephanie Hooper Marosek Ph.D.
Chair, Associate ProfessorMethodist University
Department of Chemistry and Physical Science
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Quality Control Analyst job market given the pandemic?
Stephanie Hooper Marosek Ph.D.: I think the biggest trends will be more of a willingness for graduates to expand their geographic areas in which they are searching for jobs. For chemistry graduates, there will always be a job in a lab somewhere, but you must be willing to move for it. The less a graduate is limited by location, the higher their chances of employment. Another likely trend will be an increase in graduate school applications. With a decrease in certain job markets, graduates will return to higher education in pursuit of a master's or Ph.D. to improve their resume or C.V. Many chemistry graduate programs offer tuition remission and teaching stipends/assistantships, so this is a very viable option for recent graduates who are struggling to find employment as a chemist.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Quality Control Analysts to find work opportunities?
Stephanie Hooper Marosek Ph.D.: Places that are associated with research and development, pharmaceutical or biotech companies, or large research universities are likely to have positions available for laboratory analysts. For example, our graduates are fortunate that the Research Triangle Park in the Raleigh/Durham area is close by. There are many R&D, biotech, pharmaceutical, or similar types of labs in the surrounding areas that are often looking for entry-level chemists. If a graduate is not limited by geography, then they will be able to find employment as a chemist within a few months of graduation.