AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 19-4099.01

Will AI replace Quality Control Analysts?

Quality Control Analysts: AI can already handle 16 of 26 tasks; the work mostly needs a standard-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 26 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Quality Control Analysts, from most to least exposed. 16 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Evaluate new technologies and methods to make recommendations regarding their use. 98 Observed Standard 2.9
Interpret test results, compare them to established specifications and control limits, and make recommendations on appropriateness of data for release. 65 Estimated Standard 4.3
Participate in internal assessments and audits as required. 65 Estimated Standard 3.6
Prepare or review required method transfer documentation including technical transfer protocols or reports. 65 Estimated Efficient 3.6
Review data from contract laboratories to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance. 65 Estimated Efficient 3.5
Evaluate analytical methods and procedures to determine how they might be improved. 65 Estimated Standard 3.4
Conduct routine and non-routine analyses of in-process materials, raw materials, environmental samples, finished goods, or stability samples. 60 Estimated Standard 4.4
Complete documentation needed to support testing procedures, including data capture forms, equipment logbooks, or inventory forms. 60 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Write technical reports or documentation, such as deviation reports, testing protocols, and trend analyses. 60 Estimated Efficient 4.1
Investigate or report questionable test results. 60 Estimated Standard 4.1
Monitor testing procedures to ensure that all tests are performed according to established item specifications, standard test methods, or protocols. 60 Estimated Standard 4.0
Participate in out-of-specification and failure investigations and recommend corrective actions. 60 Estimated Standard 3.9
Serve as a technical liaison between quality control and other departments, vendors, or contractors. 60 Estimated Standard 3.8
Supply quality control data necessary for regulatory submissions. 60 Estimated Efficient 3.8
Write or revise standard quality control operating procedures. 60 Estimated Frontier 3.6
Perform validations or transfers of analytical methods in accordance with applicable policies or guidelines. 60 Estimated Frontier 3.6
Develop and qualify new testing methods. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.5
Coordinate testing with contract laboratories and vendors. 50 Estimated Standard 3.2
Perform visual inspections of finished products. 40 Observed Efficient 4.2
Compile laboratory test data and perform appropriate analyses. 40 Observed Efficient 4.2
Identify quality problems and recommend solutions. 40 Observed Standard 3.9
Train other analysts to perform laboratory procedures and assays. 35 Estimated Efficient 3.8
Identify and troubleshoot equipment problems. 30 Estimated Efficient 4.1
Calibrate, validate, or maintain laboratory equipment. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.3
Ensure that lab cleanliness and safety standards are maintained. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Receive and inspect raw materials. 20 Estimated Efficient 3.9

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 4 of 26 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 22 of 26. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A standard-tier model or lower covers 89% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 100% of the work is something AI can address at some tier.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
73,910
Median annual wage
$62,280
Middle half of earners
$48,030 to $79,780
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
+3.5%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034. BLS publishes these figures by SOC code, so O*NET occupations that share a SOC code show the same figures.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Quality Control Analysts and AI

Will AI replace Quality Control Analysts?

AI already handles 16 of the 26 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 52 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +3.5% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the AI exposure of Quality Control Analysts?

52 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 4 of the 26 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 22 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Quality Control Analysts tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Evaluate new technologies and methods to make recommendations regarding their use; Interpret test results, compare them to established specifications and control limits, and make recommendations on appropriateness of data for release; Participate in internal assessments and audits as required. They are three of the 16 tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A standard-tier model or lower covers 89% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Quality Control Analysts, and what do they earn?

73,910 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $62,280 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +3.5% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Quality Control Analysts. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/quality-control-analysts

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