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The differences between material engineers and quality control engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material engineer has an average salary of $86,258, which is higher than the $70,845 average annual salary of a quality control engineer.
The top three skills for a material engineer include DOD, failure analysis and data analysis. The most important skills for a quality control engineer are product quality, quality standards, and corrective action.
| Material Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,258 | $70,845 |
| Hourly rate | $41.47 | $34.06 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 89,717 | 109,745 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Materials engineers are responsible for developing, processing, and testing materials used to create a wide variety of products. These professionals study and evaluate the properties and structure of different materials, including plastics, metal, ceramics, and composites, to create new products. They also perform other tasks that include providing technical advice on suitable materials, diagnosing faults, and providing advice on planning and conducting inspections, repairs, and maintenance. Additionally, they may also oversee the work of other scientists like technicians and evaluate the technical and economic factors surrounding the design aspects of products.
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.
Material engineers and quality control engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,258 | $70,845 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $113,000 | Between $53,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Apple | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a material engineer and a quality control engineer in terms of educational background:
| Material Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Materials Science And Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between material engineers' and quality control engineers' demographics:
| Material Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 19.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 10% | 4% |