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Careers›Roles›Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)
Mid-Level

Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)

Nothing should ship without clearing quality, and you're that checkpoint — running the tests and inspections that confirm a product actually meets spec. Catching the flaw before the customer does.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
I
R
E
S
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)s
Education · 31%Professional Services · 24%Government · 14%Manufacturing · 12%Administrative Services · 8%Healthcare · 6%
Job markets for Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)s
Where Quality Control Tester (QC Tester) jobs concentrate · ~178 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers

While you’re learning about the Quality Control Tester (QC Tester) role, anything we can help you with this week?

What it's like

What it's like to be a Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)

The work is methodical and standards-driven — running tests, inspecting samples, recording results, and flagging anything out of spec. You follow strict procedures, and catching a defect here saves a costly recall later. Much of the craft is consistent, careful checking that never gets sloppy.

Manufacturing, food, pharma, and labs each bring their own standards and regulation, and the days can run repetitive. The documentation load varies, the pace can be production-driven, and you're the one who says no when something fails. Shift work shows up in many plants.

It tends to fit the meticulous and steady — people who take pride in catching what others miss and don't mind routine. If you want variety or creative work, the repetitive checking may wear. But if being the last line before a flaw reaches a customer matters, the role is essential and quietly important.

What people in this role value
SupportModerate
IndependenceModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
RelationshipsModerate
AchievementLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns

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Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)s (SOC 19-4099.01), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science →
Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)Quality EngineerQuality Assurance Manager (QA Manager)Quality Control Manager (QC Manager)Quality ManagerCorporate Quality EngineerQuality Assurance Coordinator (QA Coordinator)Quality and Process Improvement ManagerQuality Control Systems Manager (QC Systems Manager)Quality Systems ManagerConstruction Quality Control ManagerQuality and Food Safety ManagerQA Auditor (Quality Assurance Auditor)QA Lab Tech (Quality Assurance Laboratory Technician)QA Specialist (Quality Assurance Specialist)Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech)Quality Control Checker (QC Checker)Quality Control Lab Technician (QC Lab Tech)Quality ControllerLab Technician (Lab Tech)QA Tech (Quality Assurance Technician)Data Quality AnalystQuality SpecialistQuality Control Auditor (QC Auditor)Quality Control Specialist (QC Specialist)+1 more

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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$37K–$102K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
71K
U.S. Employment
+3.5%
10yr Growth
11K
Annual Openings

How Quality Control Tester (QC Tester) pay & employment are changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Quality Control AnalysisReading ComprehensionMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingOperations MonitoringWritingSpeakingActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-4099.01

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midQuality Engineer$94KmidQuality Assurance Manager (QA Manager)$121KmidQuality Control Manager (QC Manager)$121KmidQuality Manager$121KmidCorporate Quality Engineer$101KmidQuality Assurance Coordinator (QA Coordinator)$91K
View all Science roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)

What does a Quality Control Tester (QC Tester) do?

Nothing should ship without clearing quality, and you're that checkpoint — running the tests and inspections that confirm a product actually meets spec. Catching the flaw before the customer does.

How much does a Quality Control Tester (QC Tester) make?

Median pay for a Quality Control Tester (QC Tester) is about $60K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $37K to $102K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Quality Control Tester (QC Tester) need?

Core skills for this role include Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, and Active Listening.

What education do you need to be a Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)?

Most people in this role hold a high school diploma.

Is a Quality Control Tester (QC Tester) in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 3.5% through 2034, with roughly 71,400 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Quality Control Tester (QC Tester)?

Closely related roles include Quality Engineer, Quality Assurance Manager (QA Manager), and Quality Control Manager (QC Manager).

Career advice

Quality Control Tester (QC Tester) career advice

Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.

  • Simple exerciseHelp feedback land the way your manager means it.Tell your manager how you like feedback
  • Micro habitGetting clearer, more useful input, and building trust along the way.Learn from one small piece of work
  • Simple exerciseSee a company the way its own people do, before you ask to join it.Understand a company before you apply
  • ConversationProtect your evenings and weekends, without leaving anyone stuck.Set your after-hours expectations

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More career advice

  • Find the people who could open a door
  • Put it in writing first
  • Tie your work to what the company needs most
  • Choose what to create, keep, drop and accept
  • Match your meetings to your energy
  • Sort a worry into control, influence, or accept
  • Ask what a raise would take
  • Know who to ask when you're stuck

We believe careers grow through small steps taken often, more than big leaps. So we’ve collected hundreds of them for you to try.

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.

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