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The differences between quality control technicians and process technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a quality control technician and a process technician. Additionally, a quality control technician has an average salary of $40,337, which is higher than the $39,462 average annual salary of a process technician.
The top three skills for a quality control technician include lab equipment, quality control tests and test results. The most important skills for a process technician are basic math, patients, and OSHA.
| Quality Control Technician | Process Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $40,337 | $39,462 |
| Hourly rate | $19.39 | $18.97 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 98,407 | 74,367 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Usually assigned in a manufacturing plant, a quality control technician's role focuses on testing and assessing materials before, after, and during a production process to ensure its efficiency. They also have responsibilities in implementing the policies and regulations of the company, all to maintain a safe and productive working environment for every employee. Furthermore, a quality control technician must produce necessary reports and documentation, coordinate with managers and supervisors, maintain accurate documentation, and oversee a team to secure quality standard outcomes.
A process technician is responsible for managing the equipment and machinery used for various industries, such as manufacturing and engineering. Process technicians must have a strong knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on operating certain equipment types and making adjustments on its features as needed, depending on the needs of the operation. They also run diagnostic tests to check a machine's working condition to ensure that it's free of any inconsistencies. A process technician also helps develop structure methods by communicating with the technical team and escalating all defective findings to the supervisor.
Quality control technicians and process technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Technician | Process Technician | |
| Average salary | $40,337 | $39,462 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $30,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Santa Clara, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | HP |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a quality control technician and a process technician in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Technician | Process Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between quality control technicians' and process technicians' demographics:
| Quality Control Technician | Process Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.1% Female, 36.9% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 8.1% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |