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The differences between certified welding inspectors and quality assurance inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified welding inspector has an average salary of $47,494, which is higher than the $36,842 average annual salary of a quality assurance inspector.
The top three skills for a certified welding inspector include CWI, PT and structural steel. The most important skills for a quality assurance inspector are calipers, micrometers, and corrective action.
| Certified Welding Inspector | Quality Assurance Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $47,494 | $36,842 |
| Hourly rate | $22.83 | $17.71 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 50,814 | 74,410 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A certified welding inspector is primarily in charge of inspecting welding works, ensuring its' strength and quality. Their responsibilities also entail checking safety equipment and materials, understanding project requirements, testing welds to ensure it functions according to its purpose, and evaluating the daily operations of welders to ensure that they adhere to the safety standards and regulations while operating various tools and equipment. Moreover, a certified welding inspector also helps welders by developing welding techniques to optimize operations, teaching the correct welding practices, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas.
Quality Assurance Auditors are employees who ensure the adherence of other employees to company processes and guidelines. They are expected to be experts on quality assurance processes and procedures. They also have in-depth knowledge of the expected outcomes of such processes to ensure that the company only provides quality products and services. Quality assurance auditors are also familiar with regulatory laws and policies of governing bodies that oversee companies in their particular industry. They ensure that their companies are compliant and may conduct random quality checks every now and then.
Certified welding inspectors and quality assurance inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Certified Welding Inspector | Quality Assurance Inspector | |
| Average salary | $47,494 | $36,842 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $72,000 | Between $27,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Renton, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a certified welding inspector and a quality assurance inspector in terms of educational background:
| Certified Welding Inspector | Quality Assurance Inspector | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between certified welding inspectors' and quality assurance inspectors' demographics:
| Certified Welding Inspector | Quality Assurance Inspector | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0% | Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 8.1% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 9.1% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |