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The differences between laboratory chemists and quality control assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a laboratory chemist has an average salary of $62,702, which is higher than the $37,836 average annual salary of a quality control assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory chemist include lab equipment, chromatography and analytical methods. The most important skills for a quality control assistant are product quality, quality checks, and lab equipment.
| Laboratory Chemist | Quality Control Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $62,702 | $37,836 |
| Hourly rate | $30.15 | $18.19 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 41,322 | 81,401 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Laboratory Chemists are licensed scientists who work with chemicals. They are usually found in academic institutions or research facilities. Laboratory Chemists create experiments based on the needs of the institution or company. They mix different chemicals to make the desired results. They would also analyze compounds borne out of the different mixtures and record their observations. They tabulate the results and present these to the body. Laboratory Chemists should have good organization skills. They should be able to document their experiments properly. This would help the company and future researchers.
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.
Laboratory chemists and quality control assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Chemist | Quality Control Assistant | |
| Average salary | $62,702 | $37,836 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $86,000 | Between $26,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Nutley, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Washington |
| Best paying company | BASF | Sun Chemical |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Construction |
There are a few differences between a laboratory chemist and a quality control assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Chemist | Quality Control Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between laboratory chemists' and quality control assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Chemist | Quality Control Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 18.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 5% | 8% |