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The differences between quality control inspectors and quality control engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a quality control engineer has an average salary of $70,845, which is higher than the $35,018 average annual salary of a quality control inspector.
The top three skills for a quality control inspector include calipers, magnetic particle and quality products. The most important skills for a quality control engineer are product quality, quality standards, and corrective action.
| Quality Control Inspector | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $35,018 | $70,845 |
| Hourly rate | $16.84 | $34.06 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 92,794 | 109,745 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Quality control associate scientist roles require good observation, critical thinking, and communication skills, in addition to knowledge of procedures and chemistry. They assist in laboratory experiments and research, while working in a team or independently. Working with the lead scientist, associates may compile reports of their data findings.
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.
Quality control inspectors and quality control engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Inspector | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average salary | $35,018 | $70,845 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $47,000 | Between $53,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | Broomfield, CO | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a quality control inspector and a quality control engineer in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Inspector | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between quality control inspectors' and quality control engineers' demographics:
| Quality Control Inspector | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 8.6% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 4% | 4% |