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The differences between quality control associates and quality control specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a quality control specialist has an average salary of $49,281, 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 control specialist are GMP, patients, and customer service.
| Quality Control Associate | Quality Control Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $44,519 | $49,281 |
| Hourly rate | $21.40 | $23.69 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 83,137 | 100,535 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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 control specialist is responsible for maintaining the quality of the products during production before storing for use and deliveries. Quality control specialists evaluate the products through internal specifications and processes. They conduct thorough inspections of finished products to identify any inconsistencies and malfunctions, immediately replacing or reproducing defective items. They also create a record of production issues to discuss with the management, developing strategic procedures to address quality problems for accuracy. A quality control specialist must have excellent communication skills, as well as be detail-oriented to identify areas of improvement and ensure customer satisfaction.
Quality control associates and quality control specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Associate | Quality Control Specialist | |
| Average salary | $44,519 | $49,281 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $71,000 | Between $32,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Rockville, MD |
| Highest paying state | New York | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a quality control associate and a quality control specialist in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Associate | Quality Control Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between quality control associates' and quality control specialists' demographics:
| Quality Control Associate | Quality Control Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| 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, 9.6% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |