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The differences between quality assurance interns and quality assurance specialists 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 specialist. Additionally, a quality assurance specialist has an average salary of $63,443, 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 specialist are GMP, patients, and FDA.
| Quality Assurance Internship | Quality Assurance Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $37,029 | $63,443 |
| Hourly rate | $17.80 | $30.50 |
| Growth rate | - | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 121,163 | 83,505 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| 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 specialist is an individual who is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and proposing measures to correct and improve a company's product. Quality assurance specialists need to outline quality assurance policies and procedures, making sure that quality standards are assured. It is important that a quality assurance specialist should have strong attention to detail and is excellent in data collection. This work may require a minimum of bachelor's degree and certification to get certified.
Quality assurance interns and quality assurance specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Assurance Internship | Quality Assurance Specialist | |
| Average salary | $37,029 | $63,443 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $52,000 | Between $41,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Ernst & Young | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a quality assurance internship and a quality assurance specialist in terms of educational background:
| Quality Assurance Internship | Quality Assurance Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between quality assurance interns' and quality assurance specialists' demographics:
| Quality Assurance Internship | Quality Assurance Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.4% Female, 39.6% | Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2% |
| 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% |