Regional Quality Manager salaries in five major US cities

The role of Quality Manager is a position in high demand across the US.  Employers value these high-paying positions for several reasons.

  1. Control costs: Costs can spiral out of control for any company.  It’s particularly bad in industries like Healthcare and Manufacturing.  Any time an organization has a lot of moving parts, it’s easy for waste to creep into their processes.  Therefore, most Quality Managers have a Six Sigma certification, usually with a Lean certification as well.
  2. Control Quality:  Offering a quality product or service is the most important element for most companies.  Without it, customers will not return.  Quality Managers need to balance service cost with that service’s quality.  This can often be difficult, but properly trained Quality Managers know how to achieve balance.
Los Angeles, CA

Salaries can vary widely from region to region.  Cost of living, demand, and skill-gap all play a role in determining the salary of a position.  Fortunately, the Quality Manager position is a high-paying career field in almost all major US cities.  Let’s take a look at five major US cities and see the salaries and job requirements in those areas.  To compile this list we reference several sources including active job listings on Indeed, as well as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Quality Manager Salaries

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles is a sprawling Southern California city and the center of the nation’s film and television industry.  The current population of Los Angeles, California is 3,985,520 based on projections of the latest US Census estimates.  Los Angeles is also a world center of business, international trade, technology and education.

There are hundreds of Quality Manager job positions listed for Los Angeles.  The average reported salary for quality managers in Los Angeles, CA is between $85K and $135K.

New York City, New York

In 2021, New York’s statewide GDP was $1.705 trillion, which ranked third in the nation.  New York businesses contend with high taxes and a complex regulatory landscape, but New York City provides excellent access to capital and skilled labor.

Because of this regulatory landscape, skilled Quality Managers are in high demand.  They assist with compliance and ensure products meet regulatory compliance.  The average reported salary for quality managers in New York, NY is between $83K and $150K.

Chicago, Illinois

Illinois contains the third-largest metropolitan area in the U.S., providing access to capital and skilled labor.  There are pros and cons to doing business in the state.  It is known for fiscal turmoil and high business taxes, but also having access to large markets.  Illinois has had a lower GDP growth rate than the nation as a whole for the past few years, and its population has declined by nearly 6% over the past decade.  This present a good opportunity for Quality Managers with experience, since they can command a salary higher than average.

The average reported salary for quality managers in Chicago, Illinois is between $100K and $175K.

Houston, TX

With a population of 2,296,224, Houston, TX is the 4th largest city in the US.  Houston is a dynamic mix of imagination, talent and first-class attractions that makes it a world-class city.  As a major corporate center.  Houston is home to 23 Fortune 500 companies.  The Port of Houston, one of the region’s greatest assets, ranks as the nation’s largest port in international tonnage and second in total tonnage.

Houston takes continuous improvement seriously.  They are known for being one of the first major cities to use Lean Six Sigma within the city government.  Quality Managers will find strong demand in Houston, with thousands of job listings.  The average reported salary for quality managers in Houston, TX is between $90K and $110K.

Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,[6] the sixth most populous city in the U.S., and the second most populous city in the Northeast megalopolis, behind New York City [Reference].  Philadelphia’s economic sectors include higher education, manufacturing, oil refining, food processing, health care and biotechnology, telecommunications, tourism and financial services.  These sectors are a perfect fit for Quality Managers and they see a higher than average salary here.  The average reported salary for quality managers in Philadelphia, PA is between $85K and $120K.