# Quality Control Analysts

> Conduct tests to determine quality of raw materials, bulk intermediate and finished products. May conduct stability sample tests.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/quality-control-analysts
- SOC code: 19-4099.01
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $62,280 (10th percentile $39,000, 90th percentile $102,690)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.4%
- Openings a year: 11,200
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other".

## Interest profile (code CIR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 52 |
| Investigative (I) | 65 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 3 |
| Enterprising (E) | 27 |
| Conventional (C) | 83 |

## What you'd do

- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 86/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 79/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 79/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 77/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 74/100)
- Getting Information (importance 74/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 73/100)
- Processing Information (importance 72/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 72/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 71/100)

## Skills

Quality Control Analysis, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Writing, Active Learning, Speaking

## Knowledge

Mathematics, Production and Processing, Chemistry, English Language, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Food Production, Mechanical, Education and Training, Administration and Management

## Also called

Chemistry Quality Control Analyst (Chemistry QC Analyst), Chemistry Quality Control Technician (Chemistry QC Technician), Data Quality Analyst, IT Quality Control Analyst (Information Technology Quality Control Analyst), Lab Analyst, Lab Technician (Lab Tech), Laboratory Analyst, Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), Microbiology Lab Analyst, Microbiology Quality Control Technician (Microbiology QC Tech)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Criminal Justice and Corrections](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4301) (CIP 4301, 1,742 colleges)
- [Security Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4304) (CIP 4304, 513 colleges)
- [Criminology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4504) (CIP 4504, 252 colleges)
- [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4004) (CIP 4004, 114 colleges)
- [Physical Science Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4103) (CIP 4103, 97 colleges)
- [Science Technologies/Technicians, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4199) (CIP 4199, 90 colleges)
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4010) (CIP 4010, 69 colleges)
- Science Technologies/Technicians, General (CIP 4100, 28 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Materials Sciences | $82,424 | $119,715 | not reported |
| [Calumet College of Saint Joseph](https://www.collegesref.com/college/calumet-college-of-saint-joseph-380) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,078 | $106,465 | $20,417 |
| [Champlain College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/champlain-college-508) | Security Science and Technology | $68,425 | $101,401 | $28,520 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott-909) | Security Science and Technology | $58,252 | $98,996 | $20,500 |
| [Florida State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-state-university-main-campus-985) | Security Science and Technology | $60,178 | $93,841 | $15,125 |
| [Robert Morris University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/robert-morris-university-2246) | Security Science and Technology | $64,104 | $90,206 | $26,000 |
| [University of Alaska Anchorage](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-alaska-anchorage-2863) | Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | not reported | $90,046 | not reported |
| [National University-California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/national-university-california-1825) | Criminal Justice and Corrections | $66,056 | $81,299 | $25,000 |

## Related careers

- [Quality Control Systems Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/quality-control-systems-managers): $126,060 median pay
- [Validation Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/validation-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Industrial Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Chemical Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-technicians): $60,390 median pay
- [Calibration Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/calibration-technologists-and-technicians): $67,820 median pay
- [Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $66,120 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.