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The differences between graduate engineers and quality control engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a graduate engineer, becoming a quality control engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a quality control engineer has an average salary of $70,845, which is higher than the $70,395 average annual salary of a graduate engineer.
The top three skills for a graduate engineer include civil 3d, cost estimates and project management. The most important skills for a quality control engineer are product quality, quality standards, and corrective action.
| Graduate Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,395 | $70,845 |
| Hourly rate | $33.84 | $34.06 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 98,584 | 109,745 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A graduate engineer can work in different engineering subspecialties, such as mechanical, civil, chemical, aerospace, and electrical. Most graduate engineers work on projects while under the supervision and directives of a supervisor or senior engineer. Their duties usually involve identifying and understanding project requirements, conducting research and assessments, completing surveys, and preparing models using different tools and software. Additionally, a graduate engineer can also create designs and prototypes according to project requirements and guidelines, producing regular progress reports for supervisors.
A quality control engineer is responsible for conducting quality assessments for the company's products and services to ensure adherence to federal regulations and quality standards. Quality control engineers recommend strategic methods by analyzing processes and writing test results. They also identify opportunities for more services that meet public demands and market trends, helping the business generate more resources for revenues. A quality control engineer utilizes various software tools and applications to document findings, requiring them to have excellent communication and technical skills.
Graduate engineers and quality control engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graduate Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,395 | $70,845 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $89,000 | Between $53,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a graduate engineer and a quality control engineer in terms of educational background:
| Graduate Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between graduate engineers' and quality control engineers' demographics:
| Graduate Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 24.9% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.5% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 4% |