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The differences between construction materials testing technicians and quality assurance inspectors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a quality assurance inspector has an average salary of $36,842, which is higher than the $33,781 average annual salary of a construction materials testing technician.
The top three skills for a construction materials testing technician include asphalt, field testing and certifications. The most important skills for a quality assurance inspector are calipers, micrometers, and corrective action.
| Construction Materials Testing Technician | Quality Assurance Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $33,781 | $36,842 |
| Hourly rate | $16.24 | $17.71 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 35,836 | 74,410 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A construction materials testing technician is responsible for inspecting the efficiency and performance of construction tools and equipment, as well as the condition of the construction area and foundation. Construction materials testing technicians analyze the structure of the material's components, reading schematics and blueprints to assemble tools, and monitoring daily construction progress. They also identify cost-reduction materials by negotiating with trusted suppliers and contractors, ensuring high-quality products and deliverables. A construction materials testing technician must have excellent organizational and communication skills, especially in recommending strategic procedures for quality checks and testing.
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.
Construction materials testing technicians and quality assurance inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Construction Materials Testing Technician | Quality Assurance Inspector | |
| Average salary | $33,781 | $36,842 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $42,000 | 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 construction materials testing technician and a quality assurance inspector in terms of educational background:
| Construction Materials Testing Technician | Quality Assurance Inspector | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between construction materials testing technicians' and quality assurance inspectors' demographics:
| Construction Materials Testing Technician | Quality Assurance Inspector | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 57.5% 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% |