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The differences between chemical technicians and quality control assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chemical technician has an average salary of $42,584, which is higher than the $37,836 average annual salary of a quality control assistant.
The top three skills for a chemical technician include lab equipment, safety procedures and hazardous materials. The most important skills for a quality control assistant are product quality, quality checks, and lab equipment.
| Chemical Technician | Quality Control Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $42,584 | $37,836 |
| Hourly rate | $20.47 | $18.19 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 40,191 | 81,401 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory. They also record the research progress, including scientific methods, and write observation reports for reference. A chemical technician manages the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility to avoid potential hazards and complications during chemical operations.
Quality assurance technicians work as testers, samplers, and inspectors of quality control in the organizations. They are equipped with skills in visual inspection, written and verbal communication, and active listening. In carrying out their jobs, they are expected to work well and be detail-oriented. Working as a quality assurance technician involves problem-solving, decision making, and creative thinking. They see to it that products and services meet the quality standards for the entire organization.
Chemical technicians and quality control assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chemical Technician | Quality Control Assistant | |
| Average salary | $42,584 | $37,836 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $58,000 | Between $26,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Washington |
| Best paying company | Calpine | Sun Chemical |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Construction |
There are a few differences between a chemical technician and a quality control assistant in terms of educational background:
| Chemical Technician | Quality Control Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Business |
| Most common college | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between chemical technicians' and quality control assistants' demographics:
| Chemical Technician | Quality Control Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.9% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |