MILWAUKEE – The overall average salary for US full-time quality professionals is now $85,289, up 2.2% year-over-year and 5.2% compared to 2008, according to an ASQ survey. 

Demand for quality management is surging, the firm says. Survey results show respondents’ salaries increase as their experience in the quality field increases. Quality professionals with more than 20 years of experience earned an average of $94,756. Professionals with 10 to 20 years of experience earned an average $86,993. Those with 10 or fewer years of experience earned an average $71,129.

Quality managers with more than 20 years of quality experience earn, on average, $4,000 more than managers with 10 to 20 years experience, says ASQ. These managers (20+ years) also earn over $12,000 more than managers with 10 or fewer years of quality experience.

Only 3.1% of respondents said they were unemployed, retired or laid off compared to 4.9% in 2009. More 2010 respondents also reported their companies didn’t have to make moves such as furloughs, layoffs or hiring freezes to weather the sputtering economy.

This year, 59% of survey respondents reported they have one or more ASQ certifications, and 25% said they hold two or more ASQ certifications.

Managers who are ASQ Certified Managers of Quality/Organizational Excellence reported they earn a higher average salary than their counterparts without this certification. In the US, the difference is $7,938. In Canada, the difference is $3,274.

Those in the US with Master Black Belt training earned a premium of more than $20,000 compared to those who stopped at Black Belt training.

A total of 5,348 responses were received this year, with the vast majority coming from the US and Canada.