What is the salary and career path for a qc analyst?
QC analyst is grouped with Chemical Technicians (SOC 19-4031), the closest BLS code for analytical lab staff, where the whole occupation posts an OEWS May 2025 median of $60,390 annually ($29.03/hr); the 10th percentile sits at $41,740 and the 90th reaches $92,040. Analysts who master compendial methods and instrument troubleshooting land in the upper half. Employment is projected to rise 3.7% over 2024–2034 per BLS EP, roughly average, generating about 6,700 openings a year. No license applies, but validated-method execution, USP compendial testing and CAPA-driven documentation define the release-testing role.
- QC Analysts earn a national median $60,390/yr ($29.03/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-4031); the top 10% clear $92,040.
- No license applies, but validated-method execution, USP compendial testing and CAPA documentation define the role.
- BLS projects 3.7% growth for 2024–34 across the chemical-technician code, about average, with roughly 6,700 openings a year.
- The ladder runs from QC Analyst I through senior analyst to QC supervisor or method specialist near $92,040.
Career Path
How do you become a qc analyst?
QC Analyst I
Runs routine release assays under review; pay near the BLS 10th percentile.
QC Analyst
Executes compendial and validated methods and reviews data — around the $60,390 median.
Senior QC Analyst
Handles stability, investigations and method transfers; earnings near the 75th percentile.
QC Supervisor / Method Specialist
Leads the QC lab or method program; top-decile pay near the 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays qc analysts the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-4031. National median: $60,390. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does qc analyst pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles qc analysts most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: qc analysts rank 4 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3.7% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly qc analysts clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-4031 (qc analysts) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do qc analysts need?
A science degree is the standard educational base for analytical QC work. See all state licences →
ASQ CQA or CQE credentials that validate quality-system and auditing competence.
Training in 21 CFR 211 and ALCOA+ data-integrity principles required for release testing.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do qc analysts use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 19-4031
Salary Levers
How do qc analysts earn above the $60,390 BLS median?
Compendial and instrument mastery
Command of USP methods and HPLC/GC moves pay from the $41,740 entry tier toward the $60,390 median.
Investigation and stability expertise
Leading OOS investigations and stability programs lifts earnings toward the $75,900 upper quartile.
Advancement to supervisor
Running the QC lab or method program reaches toward the $92,040 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a qc analyst worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-4031. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
QC Analyst Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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