Management
Quality Control Systems Managers
Also called: Product Quality Director, Quality and Food Safety Manager, Quality and Process Improvement Manager, Quality Assurance Director (QA Director)
US median pay
$126,060
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+2.6%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
17,000
252,100 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.
What they do day to day
- Stop production if serious product defects are present.
- Review and update standard operating procedures or quality assurance manuals.
- Monitor performance of quality control systems to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.
- Review quality documentation necessary for regulatory submissions and inspections.
- Analyze quality control test results and provide feedback and interpretation to production management or staff.
- Verify that raw materials, purchased parts or components, in-process samples, and finished products meet established testing and inspection standards.
- Oversee workers including supervisors, inspectors, or laboratory workers engaged in testing activities.
- Direct product testing activities throughout production cycles.
- Instruct staff in quality control and analytical procedures.
- Direct the tracking of defects, test results, or other regularly reported quality control data.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Quality Control Analysis4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Systems Evaluation3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Systems Analysis3.6/5
- Time Management3.5/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.2/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing4.1/5
- Education and Training4.1/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Chemistry3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Administration and Management3.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree100%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.