Quality Assurance Salary in Canada
Quality Assurance Specialist Salary Range
$68,110
$75,970
Low Range
High Range
Midpoint
This salary range represents a national benchmark in CAD. Regional salary adjustment factors can be applied below to estimate how compensation may shift by province or territory.
Salary benchmarks are based on a mix of TQR internal data and external market research for specialized manufacturing and technical roles in Canada.
Quality Assurance Specialist salaries in the Life Sciences Manufacturing industry typically range from $68,110 to $75,970, with a midpoint of approximately $70,745. Compensation varies based on Life Sciences manufacturing experience, FDA and cGMP knowledge, ISO 13485 expertise, quality systems experience, validation exposure, audit responsibilities, and overall regulatory compliance accountability.
What the Salary Percentiles Mean
The following range has been generated based on real salary data across North America.
$68,110
$75,970
$68,110
25th percentile
Employees in this section often have a lower level of experience or skills and
are still growing into their role. This role may also be at a small to medium-sized business.
$70,745
50th percentile
Employees in this section typically demonstrate the required level of experience plus many skills that are deemed an asset. This role is likely at a medium-sized business.
$75,970
75th percentile
Employees in this section typically demonstrate a higher-level of expertise and/or enhanced qualifications. They should also have a proven track record and cultural fit. This role is likely at a larger business.
Regional Salary Adjustments
Salary ranges can vary by region based on cost of living, labor competition, industry concentration, and talent availability. The map below shows regional adjustment factors that can be applied to the national salary benchmark as a directional guide.
Factors That Affect a Quality Assurance Specialist Salary
Quality Assurance Specialist compensation can vary based on product complexity, regulatory environment, manufacturing operations, Quality Management System responsibilities, validation experience, audit exposure, FDA and ISO compliance expertise, location, and overall quality responsibilities. Employers may need to adjust compensation when the position supports highly regulated pharmaceutical, biotechnology, sterile manufacturing, or medical device operations, multiple manufacturing sites, or advanced quality management systems.
Quality Assurance Specialist Job Description:
A Quality Assurance Specialist is responsible for supporting the Quality Management System (QMS) and ensuring pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and other life sciences products are manufactured in compliance with regulatory requirements, quality standards, and company procedures. This role helps ensure product quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence by maintaining effective quality systems throughout the product lifecycle.
Quality Assurance Specialists typically work with Quality Management Systems (QMS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), batch record review, CAPA, deviations, change controls, audits, document control, validation activities, and regulatory compliance programs. Their responsibilities may include reviewing manufacturing documentation, investigating quality events, supporting audits and inspections, monitoring quality metrics, maintaining data integrity, and collaborating with Manufacturing, Quality Control, Engineering, Validation, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and R&D teams.
Quality Assurance Specialists are expected to understand how quality systems directly impact product quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance, manufacturing efficiency, and business performance. Strong candidates typically combine quality systems expertise, regulatory knowledge, analytical thinking, communication skills, and problem-solving ability with a commitment to continuous improvement and compliance excellence.
Common Responsibilities:
Supporting and maintaining the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with FDA, cGMP/GMP, ISO 13485, ISO 9001, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Reviewing and approving batch records, manufacturing documentation, SOPs, specifications, quality records, and product release documentation for accuracy and compliance.
Managing deviations, nonconformances, CAPA, change controls, customer complaints, investigations, and risk assessments while supporting continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Collaborating with Manufacturing, Quality Control, Engineering, Validation, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and R&D teams to ensure product quality, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.
Monitoring quality metrics, performing trend analysis, supporting root cause investigations, and implementing corrective and preventive actions to improve quality system performance.
Supporting supplier quality activities, incoming material inspections, internal audits, customer audits, regulatory inspections, and ensuring compliance with company quality policies.
Utilizing electronic Quality Management Systems (eQMS), document control systems, quality databases, and reporting tools to maintain documentation, ensure data integrity, generate quality reports, and support regulatory readiness.
Explore Current Openings
TQR recruits for specialized roles across industrial automation, manufacturing, packaging, food production, life sciences, and related technical markets. Current openings may include engineering, operations, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and plant leadership roles.
View current opportunities or submit your resume to be considered for future roles that match your background.
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