Quality Control Manager
Project & Operations
Makes sure the finished work actually matches the contract specifications, the counterpart to a Safety Manager, protecting the project instead of the people.
What is a Quality Control Manager?
A Quality Control (QC) Manager verifies that construction work complies with contract specifications, drawings, and applicable codes, inspecting work, tracking deficiencies, and managing the submittal and testing process that documents compliance. On federal government construction contracts (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NAVFAC, and other federal agencies), serving as the Contractor Quality Control (CQC) Manager legally requires completing the Construction Quality Management for Contractors (CQM-C) course and holding a current certificate, a real contract requirement on that specific type of work, not a general industry mandate for every QC role.
What they do
- Develop and manage the project's quality control plan and inspection schedule
- Inspect completed work for compliance with drawings, specifications, and codes before it's covered or turned over
- Track deficiencies through to correction and maintain quality documentation
- Coordinate material testing and manage the submittal review process for quality compliance
- On federal contracts, perform the specific reporting and three-phase inspection process (preparatory, initial, follow-up) the contract requires
- Report quality status to project leadership and, on federal work, to the government's own quality assurance representative
A typical day
- 7:00 AMReview the day's scheduled inspections and preparatory meeting requirements
- 8:00 AMHold a preparatory phase inspection meeting before a new activity starts
- 10:00 AMInspect completed work against the specifications before it's covered by the next trade
- 1:00 PMUpdate the quality control log with deficiencies found and their correction status
- 3:00 PMReview material test results against specification requirements
Skills
Software
Pay expectations
Pay for this role, nationally
as of October 2026
Source: Payscale's Quality Control Manager, Construction data blended with a construction-QC-specific pay breakdown and ZipRecruiter data; federal and heavy-civil QC managers commonly land well above the generic BLS-derived ceiling of $114,200
Reviewed October 2026. Quality Control Manager is typically reached through promotion or years of experience in a related role, not a day-one starting point, so this chart shows the pay range for people already working as a Quality Control Manager rather than entry-level pay. "Lower range" is the lower part of the national wage distribution for this occupation, "typical" sits around the national median, and "top of scale" is the upper part, since pay isn't actually tracked by years on the job. Real pay varies a lot by state, metro area, union status, and employer, so scale these up or down for your market.
Education
- Required:
- High school diploma or equivalent; the Construction Quality Management for Contractors (CQM-C) certification becomes legally mandatory the moment this role is performed as the Contractor Quality Control Manager on a U.S. federal government construction contract; private commercial projects don't carry that specific mandate, but many employers still prefer it as a sign of formal QC training
- Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field
- Not necessary:
- A four-year degree, since many QC managers move into the role from the trades or from a superintendent track
Career progression
- 1.Quality Control Inspector
- 2.Quality Control Manager
- 3.Senior QC Manager or Director of Quality
Who hires for this role
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