What is a quality control technician and how to become one

Q: How do I become a quality technician?

To become a qualified technician, you need a high school diploma and the ability to land an entry-level position. In many cases, the employer will provide newly hired quality technicians with all of the training needed for the job. However, there are some quality technician positions that require an associate's degree or technical certification.

Q: How do I start a career in quality control?

To start a career in quality control begins with a high school diploma and the ability to land an entry-level position. For many quality control positions, the employer will provide on-the-job training.

Q: What are some skills needed to be a quality control technician?

Some skills needed to be a quality control technician include attention to detail, a thorough understanding of the products and materials, and the ability to detect any defects or deviations from specifications.

Q: What degree do you need to be a quality control technician?

No degree is needed to be a quality control technician. For most positions, just a high school diploma or GED and a willingness to learn are all you need. For many quality control technician positions, employers will train from within.

Q: What is the main qualification for quality control?

The main qualifications for quality control are a high school diploma and the ability to complete on-the-job training. In some cases, depending on the field and specialization, an associate's degree or technical certifications may be needed.

Q: Why do you want to work in quality control?

"I want to work in quality control because I am committed to ensuring product and service quality, I have strong problem solving skills and attention to detail, and I find working with compliance and regulatory standards exciting and fascinating" is a good answer to this interview question.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Benjamin Ford

A quality control technician ensures that products and services meet specified quality standards. They use various techniques to inspect and test products, such as measuring dimensions, examining materials, and analyzing data. Quality control technicians also maintain records of their findings and work closely with production teams to identify and resolve any issues. They may use specialized software to track quality metrics and report on trends over time.

What general advice would you give to a quality control technician?

Benjamin Ford

Professor and Chair, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Students graduating this year have come through a life-changing year. I'd encourage them to embrace that change. Rather than putting this year behind them and moving on, I'd like graduates to reflect on what worked and didn't work in the past year, and use that reflection to improve themselves and the world. This could be as simple as continuing to hone the time management skills we were all forced to develop, or as large as working to dismantle one of the structural inequalities that became glaringly apparent as nations struggled with health and economy.

ScoreQuality Control TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $40,337

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.4

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.69%

Asian 8.11%

Black or African American 9.53%

Hispanic or Latino 16.82%

Unknown 4.88%

White 59.97%

Gender

female 36.90%

male 63.10%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a quality control technician?

Pros

Job stability
High demand for skilled technicians
Exposure to various industries
Chance to work with advanced technology
Opportunity to develop problem-solving skills

Cons

Risk of exposure to hazardous materials
Need for high attention to detail and accuracy
Shift work, including weekends and holidays
High level of responsibility and accountability for ensuring product quality
Potential for stress due to the need to identify and solve problems quickly

Key steps to become a quality control technician

Explore quality control technician education requirements

Most common quality control technician degrees

Bachelor's

52.4 %

Associate

22.1 %

High School Diploma

13.5 %

Start to develop specific quality control technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Lab Equipment	6.55%
Quality Control Tests	6.14%
Test Results	5.63%
Asphalt	5.20%
Quality Products	4.34%

Complete relevant quality control technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New quality control technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a quality control technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real quality control technician resumes.

Research quality control technician duties and responsibilities

Direct and manage the release of FDA regulate and monitor bacterial cultures and vitamin additives for product development.
Aid in development and maintenance of SPC program achieving product performance stability and creating a platform for continuous improvement.
Work with personnel to ensure all food safety programs such as HACCP, SSOP, and GMP's, are follow.
Work on the structure of on-line supply info system base on HMI, PLC and SQL.

Prepare your quality control technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your quality control technician resume.

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