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The differences between quality assurance interns and quality assurance associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a quality assurance internship and a quality assurance associate. Additionally, a quality assurance associate has an average salary of $61,473, which is higher than the $37,029 average annual salary of a quality assurance internship.
The top three skills for a quality assurance internship include QA, java and python. The most important skills for a quality assurance associate are excellent interpersonal, customer service, and GMP.
| Quality Assurance Internship | Quality Assurance Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $37,029 | $61,473 |
| Hourly rate | $17.80 | $29.55 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 121,163 | 62,324 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A quality assurance internship involves a trainee who gains working experience in the field of quality assurance (QA) by observing QA professionals perform their work and by learning techniques about quality assurance. Quality assurance interns must monitor and test process functions and materials to ensure that products meet the necessary customer requirements. They follow their assigned quality control plans or guidelines as well as evaluate data for any deviations in the manufacturing process. Quality assurance interns must also assist internal and external customers regarding quality-related matters.
A quality assurance associate's role is to oversee the production operations in a manufacturing plant or a similar setting, ensuring quality standards throughout the entire process. Most of the time, a quality assurance associate must perform workforce assessments, provide training to new employees, produce or approve documentation and progress reports, and collaborate with colleagues to ensure that everything is running smoothly and complies with the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, there are instances when one must address issues and concerns, providing them with the necessary corrective measures.
Quality assurance interns and quality assurance associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Assurance Internship | Quality Assurance Associate | |
| Average salary | $37,029 | $61,473 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $52,000 | Between $44,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | Ernst & Young | Citi |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a quality assurance internship and a quality assurance associate in terms of educational background:
| Quality Assurance Internship | Quality Assurance Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between quality assurance interns' and quality assurance associates' demographics:
| Quality Assurance Internship | Quality Assurance Associate | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.4% Female, 39.6% | Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |