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The differences between quality control technicians and quality control engineers 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 quality control engineer. Additionally, a quality control engineer has an average salary of $70,845, 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 engineer are product quality, quality standards, and corrective action.
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $40,337 | $70,845 |
| Hourly rate | $19.39 | $34.06 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 98,407 | 109,745 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| 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 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 technicians and quality control engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average salary | $40,337 | $70,845 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $53,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a quality control technician and a quality control engineer in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Biology | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between quality control technicians' and quality control engineers' demographics:
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.1% Female, 36.9% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| 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, 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 | 6% | 4% |