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Job outlook for senior quality engineers in the United States
Senior quality engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior quality engineer job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 30,600 new jobs for senior quality engineers are projected over the next decade.
Senior quality engineer salaries have increased 6% for senior quality engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 136,171 senior quality engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 88,333 active senior quality engineer job openings in the US.
The average senior quality engineer salary is $101,339.
Are senior quality engineer jobs in demand?
Senior quality engineer job and salary trends over time
Senior quality engineer jobs over time
Senior quality engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 136,171 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 132,636 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 134,352 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 128,963 | 0.04% |
| 2017 | 121,954 | 0.04% |
Average senior quality engineer salary over time
Senior quality engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $101,339 | $48.72 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | $100,279 | $48.21 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $99,163 | $47.67 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $97,841 | $47.04 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $96,052 | $46.18 | +1.0% |
Senior quality engineer jobs by state
Most common states for senior quality engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 282 | 41% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 215 | 22% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,408 | 21% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,142 | 20% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 582 | 19% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 7,236 | 18% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,088 | 18% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,239 | 17% |
| 9 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,127 | 17% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 176 | 17% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 104 | 17% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,614 | 16% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,384 | 16% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 882 | 16% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 667 | 16% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 217 | 16% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 539 | 15% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,779 | 14% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 813 | 14% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 267 | 14% |
Most common cities for senior quality engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danvers | 4 | 15% | $111,498 |
| 2 | Lexington | 4 | 13% | $111,428 |
| 3 | Billerica | 4 | 10% | $111,401 |
| 4 | Littleton | 4 | 9% | $96,394 |
| 5 | Newton | 6 | 7% | $111,444 |
| 6 | Santa Clara | 8 | 6% | $131,362 |
| 7 | Plymouth | 4 | 5% | $97,403 |
| 8 | Irvine | 11 | 4% | $118,817 |
| 9 | Tempe | 7 | 4% | $107,179 |
| 10 | Huntsville | 5 | 3% | $83,954 |
| 11 | Boston | 13 | 2% | $111,511 |
| 12 | Atlanta | 10 | 2% | $87,847 |
| 13 | Minneapolis | 8 | 2% | $97,380 |
| 14 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $78,043 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 7 | 0% | $120,250 |
| 16 | Chicago | 6 | 0% | $92,203 |
| 17 | New York | 6 | 0% | $99,517 |
| 18 | Phoenix | 6 | 0% | $107,367 |
| 19 | San Diego | 6 | 0% | $116,970 |
| 20 | San Jose | 5 | 0% | $131,238 |
Senior Quality Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior quality engineer experts
Duke University
Arizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus
North Carolina State University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Missouri State University
Wichita State University
What Senior Quality Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tzuyang Yu Ph.D.: Improve communication skills, develop organization skills, continue learning new knowledge in the areas related to work, expand connections by learning what other people do, identify one or two mentors as role models for long-term career development.
What Senior Quality Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kambiz Farahmand Ph.D., P.E.: Hit the ground running. If you are asked to put in 40 hours work 50 hours. Prove yourself and always take on new challenges since that is how you grow.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Engineer?
Dr. Jimmie Lenz D.B.A.: A primary reason is the value placed on the quantitative nature of an engineering degree and the fact that this is primarily applied learning and skills, as opposed to the theoretical nature of some other areas of quantitative study. Being able to start working as soon as they start is very attractive to employers, as well as the broad knowledge of software, artificial intelligence, and data science that most engineers leave school with.
Jerry Gintz CMfgE
Teaching ProfessorArizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus
Manufacturing Engineering
What Senior Quality Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jerry Gintz CMfgE: From a manufacturing engineering perspective, the most important skills an engineer will need is the ability to understand, design, assemble, and deploy production capable systems. This includes an expertise with computer-aided engineering tools to assist in the design and verification of engineered systems before a company expends capital on the equipment.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Engineer?
Alexey Gulyuk: In my opinion, being an engineer is to be a problem-solver. Regardless of the conditions and situations. As one of my colleagues and mentors said: 'I am an engineer, I can learn and fix anything' - this was a short comment regarding some questionable repairs offered by a car mechanic. For people who are curious, this is the perfect field to be at: you continuously learn new things about yourself and about the world around us. Being an engineer also means that you have access and able to interact with the smartest people: every day my colleagues share some new facts, and this challenges you and allows you to grow professionally. Live and learn in action. Lastly, being an engineer opens the path to make some real societal impact - in essence, most of the things that changed the world one day and are essential to us nowadays were created by great engineers like DaVinci, Rutherford, Marconi, Benz, or Wright brothers.... As of the dislikes. One can mention things like heavy workload and endless learning. Everything comes at a price, and, sometimes, engineers cannot balance work and life. Moreover, being surrounded by intelligent and straightforward people sometimes may be a challenge, and having scientific disputes can be something that drains your batteries very fast. In many instances, the bright ideas may hit the wall of lack of the resources available, while some scientists may not be that realistic with their budgeting expectations.... Lastly, setting up experiments require rigorous planning and following all the safety protocols - sometimes, this may impose some limitations on the activities planned initially. Again, live and learn and adjust according to the external conditions.... However, despite all challenges, many people will definitely find engineering rewarding and very opportunistic field to join and thrive at.
Jianyu Liang
Director of Materials and Manufacturing Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, WPIWorcester Polytechnic Institute
Materials Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Senior Quality Engineer?
Jianyu Liang: At the start of your career, actively engaging in the manufacturing professional communities to develop an in-depth understanding of the current high-demand areas and the trends in the industry will help you position yourself in high-demand areas. This proactive approach allows you to make informed decisions on obtaining relevant certifications or advanced education, tailoring your skill set to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Proactively engaging in projects and practices to grow your experience. Building a strong professional network and finding mentors in the industry can provide guidance, expose you to new opportunities, and offer insights on navigating your career path effectively. Embracing continuous learning and staying abreast of technological advancements in manufacturing, such as automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing technologies, will ensure you remain a valuable asset to employers. Demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to adapt to new methods and technologies can set you apart in a competitive job market.
Dr. Elizabeth Rozell Ph.D.
Associate Dean and Kenneth E. Meyer Professor of ManagementMissouri State University
College of Business
What soft skills should all Senior Quality Engineers possess?
Dr. Elizabeth Rozell Ph.D.: -Creativity.
-Problem-solving skills.
-Teamwork and collaboration.
-Listening skills.
-Communication skills.
-Ability to work under pressure.
-Leadership.
-Analytical thinking.
-Attention to detail.
What skills will help Senior Quality Engineers earn the most?
Dr. Elizabeth Rozell Ph.D.: In the current industry, proficiency in various technical skills will enable the person to be more marketable.
What skills stand out on Senior Quality Engineer resumes?
Dr. Elizabeth Rozell Ph.D.: -Ability to identify Customer Requirements
-Knowledge of testing procedures
-Development of textile prototypes
-Product Development
-Ability to conduct failure analyses
-Laboratory Management
-R software proficiency and other data analysis software
-Familiarity with OSHA guidelines
-Ability to develop and design technical documents
-Knowledge of most current testing methods
-Ability to design textile studies
Dr. Atul Rai Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorWichita State University
School of Accountancy, Barton School of Business
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Quality Engineers?
Dr. Atul Rai Ph.D.: The enduring impact of this pandemic on graduates will be directly related to how this pandemic has affected the society at large.
Any cataclysmic event like this tests the resilience of societies to the limit. These events highlight the best and the worst of the society that we live in. Like Spanish Flu more than one hundred years ago, we can learn from this crisis. For example, a lack of the public health facilities in 1918, at the time Spanish flu pandemic spread, led to a significant improvement in public health in subsequent decades. Similarly, coronavirus has highlighted that our society suffers from great inequalities. The differential impact of this pandemic shows that our society has big economic, racial, and digital divides. Because of these inequalities, some members of the society have been minimally affected, while others have paid a much greater cost. The coronavirus pandemic focuses spotlight on these issues. I hope that in subsequent years, we, as a society, will spend our energies on solving these problems.
Our graduates will experience at a personal level what is happening at the society level. Most of our graduates today were young kids when the Great Recession impacted their parents' jobs. Some were too young when 9/11 happened nineteen years ago. The coronavirus pandemic is the first big crisis many of them have faced as adults. They will see the issues mentioned earlier in their own jobs, families, and friends. It will change the way they look at the world. They will be more motivated to be a part of the solution to the problems they see in the society. They will be more socially active and realize that people must work together. They will be more proactive to make changes in the world we live in, whether to improve economic, social, and racial justice or to deal with climate change. For employers, this means that to retain a talented workforce they will have to align their actions more towards what benefits the society than just shareholders.
What experience really stands out on Senior Quality Engineer resumes?
Dr. Atul Rai Ph.D.: Employers are looking for people who can integrate in multi-disciplinary environments to solve complex problems. They are looking for resumes that show quick learning. Such resumes will permanently be in great demand. Because the world is interconnected much more than it ever was, employees today will deal with customers, supply-chains, and fellow employees who are spread all over the world. It means that an experience that showcases the global perspective will be in demand over the long-term.