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Engineering assistant vs quality technician

The differences between engineering assistants and quality technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an engineering assistant and a quality technician. Additionally, an engineering assistant has an average salary of $64,402, which is higher than the $37,007 average annual salary of a quality technician.

The top three skills for an engineering assistant include troubleshoot, C++ and worksheets. The most important skills for a quality technician are calipers, quality standards, and corrective action.

Engineering assistant vs quality technician overview

Engineering AssistantQuality Technician
Yearly salary$64,402$37,007
Hourly rate$30.96$17.79
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs53,76780,291
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

What does an engineering assistant do?

An engineering assistant is responsible for supporting the engineering department's operations under the supervision of a head engineer. Engineering assistants help with operating tools and equipment, developing and analyzing designs, communicating with clients by responding to their inquiries and concerns, creating project plans, and identifying business opportunities to generate revenues and increase profitability. An engineering assistant must have excellent knowledge of the engineering disciplines and processes to carry out tasks within strict deadlines and under minimal supervision.

What does a quality technician do?

Quality systems analysts are professionals who analyze the implemented quality standards of an organization's business procedures and policies. These analysts are required to execute test plans and resolve discrepancies with their technical personnel. They must coordinate all internal audits of the quality system while implementing corrective action to their audit findings. They are required to conduct weekly meetings with development staff to discuss defects and revised business requirements. Quality systems analysts must also identify the quality training needs for operations personnel working with supervisors and quality engineers.

Engineering assistant vs quality technician salary

Engineering assistants and quality technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Engineering AssistantQuality Technician
Average salary$64,402$37,007
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $99,000Between $27,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CALos Angeles, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyGoogleAmphenol
Best paying industryEnergyHealth Care

Differences between engineering assistant and quality technician education

There are a few differences between an engineering assistant and a quality technician in terms of educational background:

Engineering AssistantQuality Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityPurdue University

Engineering assistant vs quality technician demographics

Here are the differences between engineering assistants' and quality technicians' demographics:

Engineering AssistantQuality Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 68.8% Female, 31.2%Male, 60.4% Female, 39.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.2% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between engineering assistant and quality technician duties and responsibilities

Engineering assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage the RFI process to clarify discrepancies and questions concerning the plans and specifications.
  • Create, manage and maintain the ECR process to ensure accurate and timely processing.
  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Assist in the maintenance of files for engineering drawings, ECO's, manufacturing specs, and BOM's.
  • Ensure documentation load into IP vault.
  • Review systems implementation to comply with RFP and plans.
  • Show more

Quality technician example responsibilities.

  • Lead Kaizen events and utilize DMAIC, A3, VSM, COPQ, SIPOC, and FMEA to drive results.
  • Train test personnel and manage QC test technicians in a fast pace environment.
  • Interview, hire, and manage HEDIS temporary staff during annual HEDIS projects.
  • Manage and improve CAPA and MRB process by reducing quantity and value of material.
  • Manage RMA return process including issuance and closure of work orders and dispositions promptly.
  • Lead quality initiatives for two production lines via lean six sigma tools; root cause analysis , 8-D, and Kaizen.
  • Show more

Engineering assistant vs quality technician skills

Common engineering assistant skills
  • Troubleshoot, 14%
  • C++, 13%
  • Worksheets, 11%
  • Java, 11%
  • Debugging, 7%
  • Auto CAD, 4%
Common quality technician skills
  • Calipers, 6%
  • Quality Standards, 5%
  • Corrective Action, 4%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%
  • ISO, 4%
  • Micrometers, 4%

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