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The differences between quality controls and testers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tester has an average salary of $65,202, which is higher than the $32,824 average annual salary of a quality control.
The top three skills for a quality control include quality checks, product quality and safety standards. The most important skills for a tester are java, test results, and web application.
| Quality Control | Tester | |
| Yearly salary | $32,824 | $65,202 |
| Hourly rate | $15.78 | $31.35 |
| Growth rate | 3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 83,496 | 52,595 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
As the name entails, the job of a quality control inspector is to inspect, maintain, and improve the quality and standard of products. They are responsible for ensuring the company's reputation is not damaged due to defective products or inferior manufacturing processes. This can be done by detecting and resolving the problem early on, and returning the product for repair. A quality control inspector should also notify the supervisors immediately when issues arise and coordinate with them to address the problem.
The role of technical testers is to test computer software for defects, bug errors, or any issues that may come across by an end-user. They mainly conduct product testing and prepare reports about any problems or recommendations for improvements. Other responsibilities include reviewing test plans, assessing and analyzing product specifications and requirements, and mapping out testing strategy. Technical testers also frame the test environments or support network management staff and system administrators. Qualifications for this position include knowledge of the database or structured query language, proficiency in Linux commands, and proficiency in defect tracking tools.
Quality controls and testers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control | Tester | |
| Average salary | $32,824 | $65,202 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $45,000 | Between $42,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Maryland |
| Best paying company | BD | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a quality control and a tester in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control | Tester | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between quality controls' and testers' demographics:
| Quality Control | Tester | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.5% Female, 45.5% | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.2% 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% |