Quality Manager Salary Guide

A Quality Manager leads quality assurance and control activities across product and project lifecycles to ensure products meet regulatory, safety and customer standards. They design and maintain quality systems, drive continuous improvement, manage audits, mentor QA teams, and collaborate with product, engineering, and operations to reduce defects and optimize processes.

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What is the average Quality Manager salary?

Entry Level

$65,000 - $85,000

Mid Level

$90,000 - $120,000

Senior Level

$125,000 - $170,000+

How does Quality Manager salary grow with experience?

$60,000 - $75,000
0-2
$80,000 - $100,000
3-5
$100,000 - $130,000
6-9
$125,000 - $170,000++
10+
Base (min)
Top of range (max)
Max: $170k

Quality Manager salary by location

San Francisco Bay Area, CA$120,000 - $170,000
New York City, NY$110,000 - $160,000
Seattle, WA$105,000 - $150,000
Austin, TX$95,000 - $140,000
Remote (US average)$85,000 - $135,000
Base (min)
Top of range (max)

What factors affect a Quality Manager's salary?

  • Industry and regulatory complexity (medical devices, aerospace, pharma pay premiums)
  • Geographic location and local market demand
  • Technical skills and certifications (ASQ, Six Sigma, ISO auditors)
  • Company size, revenue, and stage (startups may offer equity; enterprises higher base pay)
  • Scope of responsibility (team size, global programs, P&L influence)

How to compare Quality Manager pay figures

The generated ranges in this guide have not been independently source-verified. Check the underlying occupation, location and data period before using a range as a market benchmark. Keep the original source alongside any figure you save. A page updated recently can still contain wages measured in an earlier year, and a broad occupational category may cover several different job titles.

Compare the work as well as the title

Read a vacancy's responsibilities, required experience, working hours and location before placing it beside another role. Two positions called Quality Manager can have different scope. Record the duties you would own, the team or customers you would support, and any supervisory expectations. Use those details to decide whether a comparison is relevant instead of assuming that a matching title means matching pay.

Keep compensation definitions consistent

Confirm the currency and whether a figure is hourly, monthly or annual. Check the paid hours before converting between periods. Separate guaranteed base pay from bonuses, commissions, overtime, equity and benefits. Ask which parts are guaranteed and which depend on targets, company results or vesting conditions. Compare the same components across offers; a total-compensation figure and a base-salary figure answer different questions.

Identify the statistic too. A median divides the measured workforce into two equal halves. A percentile describes a point in that distribution; it does not automatically describe an entry-level or senior employee. Do not turn national survey percentiles into a personal experience-based pay prediction. Use local, role-relevant evidence when it is available and record any mismatch in coverage.

Build a comparison you can check later

For each job listing, survey or offer, save the role, responsibilities, location, currency, pay period, compensation components, source link and date checked. Mark missing information as unknown. Keep the employer's stated range separate from any expectation you calculate yourself. If the figures differ, first check their definitions and scope rather than averaging incompatible numbers into a new estimate.

When discussing an offer, prepare clear examples of the responsibilities and results you can support with your experience. Ask the recruiter about the role's level, the approved range and how the package is structured. Keep those answers with your comparison so you can assess the offer using confirmed information. This guide gives you questions to investigate; the employer's written terms establish the actual package being offered.

Read the salary source and comparison checklist

Frequently Asked Questions About Quality Manager Salaries

What is the average salary for a Quality Manager in the US?

In the US, Quality Manager salaries commonly range from about $65,000 (entry) to $170,000+ (senior), with a midpoint for mid-level roles near $100,000–$120,000 depending on location and industry.

Which factors most affect a Quality Manager’s pay?

Location, industry (e.g., medical devices or aerospace pay more), company size, technical certifications (e.g., ASQ, Six Sigma), and experience level are the primary drivers of compensation.

How can I increase my Quality Manager salary?

Gain domain-specific experience, earn certifications (ASQ, Six Sigma Black/Green Belt), demonstrate measurable quality improvements, lead cross-functional programs, and target higher-paying industries or metro areas.

Are bonuses and equity common for Quality Managers?

Yes. Mid and senior Quality Managers often receive annual bonuses tied to performance and KPIs; equity is more common at startups and in tech companies, while manufacturing roles rely more on cash compensation.

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