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The differences between quality control associates and quality assurance associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a quality assurance associate has an average salary of $61,473, which is higher than the $44,519 average annual salary of a quality control associate.
The top three skills for a quality control associate include QC, GMP and laboratory equipment. The most important skills for a quality assurance associate are excellent interpersonal, customer service, and GMP.
| Quality Control Associate | Quality Assurance Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $44,519 | $61,473 |
| Hourly rate | $21.40 | $29.55 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 83,137 | 62,324 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
In a manufacturing setting, a quality control associate is in charge of conducting various tests to ensure that the products meet the company's standard criteria. Their responsibilities revolve around inspecting the workforce and workload involved in the production process, identifying errors or inconsistencies, recommending solutions and alterations, and maintaining records and documentation. Furthermore, as a quality control associate, it is essential to coordinate with department staff and produce progress reports, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
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 control associates and quality assurance associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Associate | Quality Assurance Associate | |
| Average salary | $44,519 | $61,473 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $71,000 | Between $44,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Citi |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a quality control associate and a quality assurance associate in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Associate | Quality Assurance Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Accounting |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between quality control associates' and quality assurance associates' demographics:
| Quality Control Associate | Quality Assurance Associate | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.0% Female, 50.0% | Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 13.2% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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 | 8% | 11% |