Quality Control Analysts build quality control analysis, complex problem solving and operations monitoring skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (80%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 80% | $48,570 | — | None |
| 2 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 78% | $82,890 | — | None |
| 3 | Chemists | 77% | $91,240 | — | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Quality Control Systems Managers | 75% | $126,060Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Production Managers” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Validation Engineers | 75% | $102,440Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Engineers” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 74% | $74,510 | — | None |
| 7 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 72% | $66,120 | — | None |
| 8 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 70% | $58,040 | — | None |
| 9 | Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | 69% | $46,380 | — | None |
| 10 | Aviation Inspectors | 69% | $92,100Pay for the broader BLS group “Transportation Inspectors” | Not compared | None |
Compared with Quality Control Analysts, median —. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as quality control analysts (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
80% skill match · $48,570
Management of Financial Resources
78% skill match · $82,890
Repairing · Equipment Maintenance · Operations Analysis
77% skill match · $91,240
Management of Personnel Resources · Equipment Maintenance · Equipment Selection
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (80% skill match, median $48,570), Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (78% skill match, median $82,890) and Chemists (77% skill match, median $91,240), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
None of the 25 closest matches pays more than quality control analysts at the national median (BLS May 2025). Higher-paying moves usually need more training.
19 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.