Quality Control Systems Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.
Also called: Construction Quality Control Manager, Product Quality Director, Quality and Food Safety Manager, Quality and Process Improvement Manager, Quality Assurance Coordinator (QA Coordinator), Quality Assurance Director (QA Director)
Median pay
$126,060
Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Production Managers”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$78,000 – $205,520
People employed
246,250
Whole BLS group
Holland code
CEI
Conventional · Enterprising · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 2.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Quality Control Systems Managers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Industrial Production Managers”.
What quality control systems managers do
- 01Stop production if serious product defects are present.
- 02Review and update standard operating procedures or quality assurance manuals.
- 03Monitor performance of quality control systems to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.
- 04Review quality documentation necessary for regulatory submissions and inspections.
- 05Analyze quality control test results and provide feedback and interpretation to production management or staff.
- 06Verify that raw materials, purchased parts or components, in-process samples, and finished products meet established testing and inspection standards.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from quality control systems managers
- Validation Engineers85% · group pay
- Industrial Engineers82% · —
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors81% · —
- Food Scientists and Technologists77% · —
- Quality Control Analysts77% · group pay
Change into quality control systems managers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Validation Engineers85% · $102,440
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors78% · $115,160
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists78% · $80,730
- Regulatory Affairs Managers77% · $141,900
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers76% · $171,270
Majors that lead here
- Industrial Engineering
- Engineering/Industrial Management
- Clinical and Industrial Drug Development
- Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences
- Business/Commerce, General
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
- Operations Management and Supervision
- Science/Technology Management
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.