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The differences between quality control technicians and quality control chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a quality control chemist has an average salary of $58,892, which is higher than the $40,337 average annual salary of a quality control 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 quality control chemist are QC, HPLC, and lab equipment.
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Control Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $40,337 | $58,892 |
| Hourly rate | $19.39 | $28.31 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 98,407 | 90,467 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 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 Quality Control Chemist uses chemistry lab skills to test and measure materials, usually in a manufacturing or pharmaceutical field. They analyze samples using scientific equipment, prepare study protocols, collect data, and identify and investigate abnormal test results.
Quality control technicians and quality control chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Control Chemist | |
| Average salary | $40,337 | $58,892 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $45,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | North Kingstown, RI |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Hallstar |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a quality control technician and a quality control chemist in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Control Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between quality control technicians' and quality control chemists' demographics:
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Control Chemist | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.1% Female, 36.9% | Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5% |
| 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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 21.4% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |