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The differences between materials research engineers and quality control engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials research engineer has an average salary of $87,100, which is higher than the $70,845 average annual salary of a quality control engineer.
The top three skills for a materials research engineer include materials research, research projects and characterization techniques. The most important skills for a quality control engineer are product quality, quality standards, and corrective action.
| Materials Research Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,100 | $70,845 |
| Hourly rate | $41.88 | $34.06 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 82,912 | 109,745 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A materials research engineer researches, processes, and develops test materials used to create a wide range of products. They must be good in analytical, mechanical, and math skills. They are likely to perform in their role such as formulating their own project concepts, executing technology projects about the development of novel polymer fiber-reinforced composites, and identifying unknown material compositions. Also, they implement powder processing equipment and manufacture tools to improve their efficiency and quality.
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.
Materials research engineers and quality control engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Research Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,100 | $70,845 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $111,000 | Between $53,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beaverton, OR | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Nike | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a materials research engineer and a quality control engineer in terms of educational background:
| Materials Research 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 materials research engineers' and quality control engineers' demographics:
| Materials Research Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% | 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, 66.4% 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% |