Salary guide, May 2025
Lead Quality Engineer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Industrial Production Managers in the United States was $126,060 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $98,160 and $161,880.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-3051 Industrial Production Managers
Lead Quality Engineer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $78,000 | $98,160 | $126,060 | $161,880 | $205,520 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $37.50 | $47.19 | $60.61 | $77.83 | $98.81 |
BLS estimated 246,250 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-3051 Industrial Production Managers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $120,090 | $86,300 to $164,900 | 2,300 | 0.51 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $119,360 | $84,210 to $160,800 | 1,550 | 0.68 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $121,840 | $89,090 to $166,420 | 1,050 | 0.47 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,120 | $97,770 to $164,810 | 1,010 | 0.86 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $151,630 | $117,020 to $178,570 | 7,220 | 0.48 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $151,630 | $117,020 to $178,570 | 7,220 | 0.48 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $132,990 | $98,770 to $171,080 | 5,890 | 0.92 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $129,840 | $103,990 to $165,090 | 8,850 | 1.24 |
Rank every metro for Lead Quality Engineer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (NAICS 324000)$155,730
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$135,530
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$133,830
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$131,510
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (NAICS 312000)$130,480
- Paper Manufacturing (NAICS 322000)$129,500
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$128,300
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$127,420
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$127,140
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$124,850
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (NAICS 326000)$118,960
- Food Manufacturing (NAICS 311000)$116,250
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (NAICS 332000)$109,920
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (NAICS 327000)$107,810
- Printing and Related Support Activities (NAICS 323000)$104,240
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 185,250 | $98,370 | $125,280 | $159,150 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 25,800 | $104,500 | $131,510 | $162,800 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 23,450 | $90,010 | $109,920 | $138,480 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 21,440 | $106,190 | $135,530 | $169,170 |
| 311000 · 3-digit | Food Manufacturing | 19,440 | $95,170 | $116,250 | $148,320 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 17,600 | $98,400 | $124,850 | $156,920 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 12,170 | $104,940 | $133,830 | $171,590 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 11,450 | $96,720 | $118,960 | $145,370 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 11,250 | $98,450 | $124,790 | $155,830 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 9,620 | $96,550 | $117,930 | $142,340 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 9,520 | $124,810 | $140,800 | $169,400 |
| 3250A1 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 9,340 | $107,310 | $139,500 | $172,510 |
| 325400 · 4-digit | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 8,080 | $116,550 | $138,990 | $169,920 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 7,960 | $96,560 | $119,690 | $149,230 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 7,960 | $99,800 | $124,910 | $143,850 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 7,820 | $99,010 | $128,300 | $164,320 |
| 327000 · 3-digit | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 6,940 | $88,100 | $107,810 | $137,940 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 6,690 | $93,950 | $114,900 | $140,350 |
| 322000 · 3-digit | Paper Manufacturing | 6,640 | $100,720 | $129,500 | $161,330 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 6,260 | $99,380 | $127,140 | $161,060 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 6,210 | $84,420 | $105,370 | $134,470 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 6,010 | $102,000 | $127,420 | $164,710 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 5,650 | $110,400 | $135,490 | $173,780 |
| 321000 · 3-digit | Wood Product Manufacturing | 4,750 | $80,030 | $101,510 | $129,620 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 4,720 | $104,010 | $135,190 | $171,590 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 4,630 | $83,940 | $103,660 | $134,740 |
| 322200 · 4-digit | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 4,580 | $97,660 | $122,280 | $150,980 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 4,480 | $108,750 | $135,850 | $172,360 |
| 336100 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 4,390 | $100,130 | $131,560 | $165,450 |
| 311600 · 4-digit | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 4,200 | $99,300 | $119,820 | $150,790 |
| 3250A2 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 4,010 | $98,820 | $124,440 | $157,780 |
| 323000 · 3-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 3,730 | $82,840 | $104,240 | $131,880 |
| 323100 · 4-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 3,730 | $82,840 | $104,240 | $131,880 |
| 311900 · 4-digit | Other Food Manufacturing | 3,640 | $90,990 | $112,850 | $147,090 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3,340 | $82,870 | $107,730 | $137,700 |
| 337000 · 3-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 3,140 | $82,770 | $103,250 | $134,010 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 2,980 | $93,550 | $109,790 | $136,320 |
| 3370A1 · 4-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 2,840 | $82,580 | $103,230 | $133,630 |
| 321900 · 4-digit | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 2,760 | $77,930 | $98,860 | $125,740 |
| 311800 · 4-digit | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 2,750 | $88,190 | $109,640 | $137,820 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 2,720 | $100,300 | $129,200 | $161,690 |
| 312000 · 3-digit | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 2,710 | $101,850 | $130,480 | $166,040 |
| 324000 · 3-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,650 | $114,730 | $155,730 | $174,110 |
| 324100 · 4-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,650 | $114,730 | $155,730 | $174,110 |
| 332800 · 4-digit | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 2,600 | $80,590 | $102,030 | $127,720 |
| 312100 · 4-digit | Beverage Manufacturing | 2,450 | $99,890 | $130,100 | $165,580 |
| 311500 · 4-digit | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 2,420 | $100,010 | $123,960 | $155,080 |
| 335300 · 4-digit | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 2,310 | $104,000 | $131,970 | $165,250 |
| 311400 · 4-digit | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 2,230 | $96,430 | $119,590 | $146,490 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 2,180 | $107,140 | $135,300 | $176,080 |
| 322100 · 4-digit | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 2,060 | $128,610 | $139,030 | $171,120 |
| 326200 · 4-digit | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 1,830 | $97,400 | $123,430 | $154,350 |
| 331500 · 4-digit | Foundries | 1,820 | $96,830 | $118,220 | $137,500 |
| 311100 · 4-digit | Animal Food Manufacturing | 1,810 | $93,860 | $104,400 | $128,970 |
| 336200 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 1,720 | $93,120 | $112,700 | $142,080 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 1,580 | $87,090 | $112,130 | $134,040 |
| 331100 · 4-digit | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,520 | $121,640 | $145,280 | $207,820 |
| 336600 · 4-digit | Ship and Boat Building | 1,340 | $101,600 | $126,570 | $164,590 |
| 313000 · 3-digit | Textile Mills | 1,250 | $83,270 | $102,070 | $135,120 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 1,190 | $96,450 | $123,440 | $160,260 |
| 321200 · 4-digit | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,150 | $80,180 | $100,730 | $129,730 |
| 311200 · 4-digit | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,140 | $100,890 | $127,450 | $163,410 |
| 331400 · 4-digit | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 1,010 | $100,900 | $125,940 | $156,800 |
| 314000 · 3-digit | Textile Product Mills | 980 | $79,580 | $101,670 | $136,960 |
| 311300 · 4-digit | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 930 | $81,750 | $118,380 | $155,350 |
| 331300 · 4-digit | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 890 | $104,530 | $131,300 | $165,050 |
| 321100 · 4-digit | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 840 | $95,360 | $121,560 | $143,900 |
| 315000 · 3-digit | Apparel Manufacturing | 810 | $75,880 | $98,720 | $136,410 |
| 331200 · 4-digit | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 760 | $102,320 | $125,530 | $155,360 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 760 | $92,270 | $126,780 | $170,350 |
| 313200 · 4-digit | Fabric Mills | 740 | $82,170 | $104,030 | $137,730 |
| 335200 · 4-digit | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 710 | $93,260 | $105,140 | $128,430 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 690 | $80,150 | $105,880 | $140,240 |
| 314900 · 4-digit | Other Textile Product Mills | 680 | $74,720 | $97,070 | $128,960 |
| 315200 · 4-digit | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 570 | $75,290 | $98,710 | $138,000 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 520 | $86,660 | $111,270 | $143,240 |
| 336900 · 4-digit | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 470 | $84,940 | $111,130 | $147,630 |
| 336500 · 4-digit | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 390 | $103,820 | $118,170 | $135,280 |
| 313300 · 4-digit | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 320 | $83,910 | $94,480 | $129,990 |
| 311700 · 4-digit | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 300 | $81,630 | $104,270 | $137,390 |
| 314100 · 4-digit | Textile Furnishings Mills | 300 | $95,220 | $122,520 | $146,210 |
| 337900 · 4-digit | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 300 | $84,410 | $104,380 | $135,230 |
| 312200 · 4-digit | Tobacco Manufacturing | 270 | $111,280 | $138,300 | $174,020 |
| 334300 · 4-digit | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 250 | $84,150 | $123,250 | $158,980 |
| 316000 · 3-digit | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 220 | $77,090 | $99,800 | $131,740 |
| 339910 · 5-digit | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 220 | $82,370 | $114,560 | $137,020 |
| 313100 · 4-digit | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 190 | $89,700 | $100,820 | $125,840 |
| 315900 · 4-digit | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 180 | $79,150 | $99,230 | $124,890 |
| 316900 · 4-digit | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 110 | $71,920 | $90,990 | $130,520 |
| 334600 · 4-digit | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 100 | $82,560 | $126,730 | $185,000 |
| 316200 · 4-digit | Footwear Manufacturing | 70 | $94,960 | $104,090 | $136,190 |
| 315100 · 4-digit | Apparel Knitting Mills | 50 | $76,600 | $94,230 | $132,750 |
| 316100 · 4-digit | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 40 | $79,410 | $91,090 | $143,360 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Lead Quality Engineer, clarify the base pay before discussing call-outs, travel or extra shifts. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure. Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $94,620 | $121,440 | $156,330 |
| May 2025 | $98,160 | $126,060 | $161,880 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about an interview based on the work?
Build the interview around technical direction of quality investigations and engineering decisions. A practical discussion of an investigation reviewed for measurement validity and causal evidence can test judgment without using confidential drawings or customer information. Those limits help establish technical leadership rather than the quality manager's complete QMS authority; they are part of competence, not a weakness to talk around.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Lead Quality Engineer?
The median annual wage for Industrial Production Managers in the United States was $126,060 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $98,160 and $161,880. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $78,000. 90% earned less than $205,520.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Lead Quality Engineer at a plant?
Lead Quality Engineer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 246,250 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
VP of Quality / Chief Quality Officer pay Director of Quality pay Quality Manager pay QC Manager pay Quality Engineer pay Lead Quality Engineer pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Lead Quality Engineer recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Lead Quality Engineer position is measured within the Industrial Production Managers (11-3051) broad occupational group, which encompasses 246,250 roles. This mapping means the data is not specific to quality engineering functions and instead reflects general production management. For Lead Quality Engineer in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates.
The May 2025 median is $126,060; the May 2024 median is $121,440. Their arithmetic difference is $4,620. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. A middle band width of $63,720 is established between the P25 of $98,160 and the P75 of $161,880. For Lead Quality Engineer in the United States, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $98,160 to $161,880 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them.
Industry-specific national data highlights significantly different wage structures. Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing reports a high median of $155,730, while Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing indicates a median of $145,280. These figures reflect specific industry market pressures rather than a singular wage for every production management role. For Lead Quality Engineer in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded.
Geographic comparison highlights significant market variance. In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, the median is $128,540 with a middle band width of $63,060. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area reports a higher median of $129,840 with a middle band width of $61,100. Location quotients of 0.92 and 1.24 for these metros demonstrate high employment density for these management roles. Because the SOC code combines production management and quality leadership, the ranges provided must be examined alongside individual role requirements to ensure they align with the technical leadership needed for plant quality systems.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
For Lead Quality Engineer in the United States, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $98,160 to $161,880 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them.
Why is the Lead Quality Engineer role mapped to Industrial Production Managers?
The BLS currently lacks a specific occupational code for quality engineering leadership. We map this role to production management because both involve significant oversight of plant output quality and process adherence.
Are the industry-specific wages like $155,730 for petroleum manufacturing reliable?
These are official national medians for the specified industry categories. They demonstrate how different manufacturing sectors prioritize production and quality expertise.
Does the $63,720 middle band width suggest a wide range in required experience?
For Lead Quality Engineer in the United States, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $98,160 to $161,880 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them. You should adjust for your specific technical requirements within this bracket.
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