25 of the Highest Paying Quality Control Inspector Jobs in 2026

The best Quality Control Inspector jobs can pay up to $148,500 per year.

High Paying Quality Control Inspector Jobs

• Mechanical Integrity Engineer

  Salary range: $120,000 - $148,500

  The majority of Mechanical Integrity Engineer salaries across the United States currently range between $120,000 (25th percentile) and $148,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Mechanical Integrity Engineer job market in the United States is somewhat active, with a few companies hiring.

• Electronics Test Engineer

  Salary range: $80,000 - $117,000

  The majority of Electronics Test Engineer salaries across the United States currently range between $80,000 (25th percentile) and $117,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Electronics Test Engineer job market in the United States is somewhat active, with a few companies hiring.

• Plant Inspector

  Salary range: $52,000 - $117,000

  The majority of Plant Inspector salaries across the United States currently range between $52,000 (25th percentile) and $117,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Plant Inspector job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

• Continuous Improvement Engineer

  Salary range: $79,000 - $105,500

  A continuous improvement engineer works with industrial businesses to improve manufacturing and production processes using lean manufacturing and other improvement concepts. As a continuous improvement engineer, your job duties include collecting production data, analyzing outputs, and determining corrective courses of action to promote safety, quality, and efficiency. Career qualifications typically include a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, engineering, or a related field, as well as experience in a manufacturing or operational process role. You also need strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and mathematics skills.

• Coatings Inspector

  Salary range: $82,000 - $100,500

  A coatings inspector or coating inspector is a quality control technician who works primarily with protective coatings and materials such as paint, urethane, adhesives, and zinc. Their job duties include ensuring projects remain compliant and stay within determined specifications. A coatings inspector checks the quality of materials and equipment, observes surface preparation, records atmospheric conditions before application of materials, and conducts adhesion, penetration, and impact tests. Career qualifications include a high school diploma and completion of level 1, 2, or 3 of the NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers) Coating Inspector Program.

• Lead Inspector

  Salary range: $39,500 - $83,000

  A lead inspector examines homes or buildings for the presence of lead paint or other material with a lead base. In this career, you may work in residential homes, public facilities, or commercial buildings. Most facilities that serve children, such as schools, need to have their buildings checked for lead content. You walk through the building, inspecting every wall and surface for the possibility of lead and test the paint to determine the severity of the hazard. After each inspection, you document your findings for your client or company.

• Quality Control Specialist

  Salary range: $41,500 - $74,000

  A quality control specialist typically oversees the production line of a manufacturing process to ensure that it provides consistent results for a product. In this role, you may test and inspect the line to find any defects. You may also analyze error logs and data feeds to identify where a problem occurs. Other responsibilities and duties include making decisions about keeping or pitching a run and recommending changes in measurements and specific steps to make sure the products match their intended specs. This is an essential role in manufacturing with a direct impact on customer satisfaction. Sometimes, this role entails carrying out assessments of field reports and mostly performing department tasks in an office setting.

• Testing Coordinator

  Salary range: $50,000 - $72,000

  A testing coordinator oversees the preparations and administration of a proficiency exam, such as the SAT, GRE, or another standardized test. Job duties range from scheduling the day of the test, securing a space large enough for the exam, hiring test proctors, and ensuring that everything is prepared for the day of the exam. They are also responsible for providing all materials are secured and that there is no cheating. Qualifications for this job include a mix of skills and experience. Testing coordinators often have a career in education, familiarity with the exam, and contacts in the district to ensure facilities and materials are available.

• Ndt

  Salary range: $48,000 - $71,500

  There are several career paths in the NDT field, including nondestructive testing technician, inspector, and quality assurance specialist. An NDT technician is typically an entry-level role that can help you gain experience and advance to more highly skilled NDT jobs. You can find NDT technician positions in industries that rely on the use of materials, including construction property, manufacturing, aerospace, automobile, and tech. Your job duties as an NDT technician include performing a variety of nondestructive testing methods and completing an in-depth analysis of the test results. Your responsibilities also include collaborating with your team and providing data to back up your test results.

• Ndt Inspector

  Salary range: $49,500 - $70,500

  A Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspector evaluates materials and assembly parts to ensure they meet quality control standards and are safe to use before they go to the final construction stage. Unlike destructive tests that damage the components being examined, NDT inspectors use specialized equipment such as X-ray cameras and ultrasound machines to search for problems that are not visible to the naked eye. NDT inspectors work in every industry, including aerospace, manufacturing, and defense; they test the safety of a variety of products, from auto parts to nuclear reactors. Some examples of testing methods include Electromagnetic Testing (ET), Guided Wave (GW) testing, and Thermal/Infrared Testing (IR).

• Quality Improvement Specialist

  Salary range: $48,500 - $70,000

  A quality improvement specialist works within the medical field to improve the operation of hospitals and clinical facilities. You typically do not work with patients directly, and work instead with administrators and other leaders to evaluate the operational efficiency of the medical facility. Your job duties are focused on improving the overall care and experience that a patient receives while at the facility. You are focused on the health of the facility and its ability to improve the health of the patients. You gather data on care procedures and systems, analyze it for possibilities of improvement, and then make recommendations based on the results.

• Quality Auditor

  Salary range: $36,000 - $68,000

  As a quality auditor, your main duties are to inspect a product or system to ensure that it meets the set specifications and standards, write audit reports and assessments, and develop quality control monitoring protocols. Your responsibilities depend on the specifics of your job. Some quality auditors are only responsible for checking a specific element of a product, such as consumer safety or standards compliance. For example, a sorter separates materials, such as fabrics, by color, size, or fabric type. A sample, on the other hand, may monitor a large batch product, such as paint, to ensure there are no defects in the run.

• Quality Improvement Coordinator

  Salary range: $44,000 - $67,500

  As a quality improvement coordinator, your primary responsibilities are to ensure nurses and staff at a healthcare organization comply with industry standards. You typically operate in a hospital or clinic setting, where you collaborate with and report to a medical director. Your duties include working with a quality improvement committee to review processes within the organization, assist with data collection, and analyze where changes should be enacted to improve patient care. It’s your job to oversee projects and implement a corrective action plan when needed. You are also in charge of investigating claims made against the organization.

• Mechanical Inspector

  Salary range: $50,500 - $67,000

  A mechanical inspector performs a variety of quality assurance duties related to building codes and electrical maintenance. Your responsibilities include inspecting the installation and upkeep of all kinds of electrical and mechanical systems, such as furnaces, boilers, HVAC or air conditioning systems, and elevators in residential and commercial buildings. You inspect these systems to ensure they are functioning properly and do not violate any building or safety codes. You may work on construction sites to observe the installation and technical calibration of systems, or for existing buildings to write reports based on your inspections.

• Quality Associate

  Salary range: $38,000 - $65,500

  A quality associate works as part of a team, typically in the manufacturing industry, to inspect and audit a factory to ensure that production follows the necessary protocols and delivers the expected results. In this role, your responsibilities involve all aspects of quality control. You test procedures and make adjustments as required to meet goals and deadlines. As part of your duties, you log your findings and implement a plan for the smooth operation of the line for the long-term. Some people in this career specialize in a particular facet of the manufacturing process.

• Aircraft Quality Control Inspector

  Salary range: $38,500 - $65,500

  As an aircraft quality control inspector, your job is to conduct inspections of systems and components on aircraft of various sizes. To accomplish this, you use manuals and checklists provided by manufacturers or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test components before, during, and after repairs and maintenance. You may also conduct functional checks to determine what needs maintenance, ensure all repair work is in compliance with safety standards, and calibrate inspection tools to the correct standards. When not inspecting aircraft, you spend time examining the repair environment to ensure it's safe for the workers. Aircraft quality control inspectors frequently work with other safety personnel and mechanics and occasionally report to manufacturers or the FAA when new problems are detected.

• Quality Coordinator

  Salary range: $42,000 - $65,000

  Quality coordinators ensure that employees follow quality assurance standards and procedures established by the company. As a quality coordinator, you analyze data, review policies, and suggest process improvements. You create reports and train employees on expectations of quality goals. Depending on the industry, your job may involve product testing, customer service audits, or reviewing operations data. Qualifications to become a quality coordinator include several years of production experience in the industry in which you wish to work.

• Quality Control Analyst

  Salary range: $48,000 - $64,500

  A quality control (QC) analyst or quality assurance analyst tests computer programs to ensure that software applications function properly before being deployed in production or going to market. As a quality control analyst, your job is to identify and fix bugs in software applications and computer systems and make recommendations to management about how to improve a software application’s functionality, user experience (UX), and user interface (UI). Your QC process typically involves a significant amount of collaboration with other analysts and software developers.

• CMM Inspector

  Salary range: $50,000 - $64,000

  A CMM inspector is responsible for inspecting a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). A CMM machine measures the axis or surface of an object using a probe. In this career, your job duties include developing programs to inspect the CMM machine, ensuring the machine is working correctly, and calibrating the machine to ensure proper measuring. The qualifications needed for a career as a CMM inspector include a high school diploma and certifications in the use of a CMM machine. You also need strong analytical skills and experience working with the CMM machine and its software.

• Source Inspector

  Salary range: $37,500 - $51,000

  As a source inspector, you act as a field representative for a manufacturing company. Your duties involve inspecting materials and components at the facility that produces them. You work to ensure that parts meet their required specifications, and you do this by looking at blueprints and data. Other responsibilities include taking measurements, performing tests using computer equipment or electrical devices, and assessing other variables such as density, strength, and durability. You document the results of these inspections and create a report for your client or employer. Many source inspectors work in the aerospace industry.

• Drive Tester

  Salary range: $44,000 - $50,000

  As a drive tester, your primary responsibilities involve testing the signal of radio networks or radio frequencies (RF), usually wireless or cellular signals. Your daily duties include driving around a coverage area, testing signals, and collecting data on calls or other indicators. You may use a GPS to focus the data collection on a specific area. After the driving test, you organize the data and report your findings to your company or client.

• Quality Control Technician

  Salary range: $37,500 - $48,000

  There are no formal education requirements to become a quality control technician, though completing a quality control certificate or degree program at a community college or vocational school that is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) may make you more competitive on the job market. These programs teach you the basic skills needed to perform your duties in this position. For those without a degree, gain work experience in the manufacturing industry by acquiring an entry-level position and learn how a product is manufactured from start to finish.

• Quality Control Assistant

  Salary range: $34,000 - $48,000

  A quality control assistant works to ensure products meet company standards and industry safety guidelines. Specific job duties may vary, depending on the company and industry. As a quality control assistant, your responsibilities may include organizing audit paperwork for the quality control manager, calibrating equipment to make sure they are running properly, and inspecting products for flaws or defects. There are no formal education requirements to become a quality control assistant, though some employers prefer candidates with an associate degree and at least one year of industry experience.

• Electronic Tester

  Salary range: $36,000 - $45,500

  As an electronic tester, you examine and test the wiring, circuits, switches, and power sources of electronic devices and equipment. You can also review performance hardware or embedded computer systems. Your duties include locating defective components or problem areas in a prototype or manufactured product, and you also ensure that the system complies with all relevant safety regulations. Some electronic testers travel to the manufacturing site or equipment location to perform their analysis. Your responsibilities include fixing issues or reporting areas of concern to engineers or managers and suggesting methods to fix the problems.

• Test Driver

  Salary range: $32,000 - $40,000

  A test driver measures the performance of a vehicle for car manufacturers. While some tests are done with computers or crash dummies, test drivers are an essential part of the process that cannot be simulated in a lab. Their duties involve driving new models and prototypes of cars to test safety, speed, and the mechanics of the engine, pushing the vehicle to the outer limits of performance. Test drivers observe odd noises, braking or accelerating issues, and maximum speed and report the data to the manufacturers.