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The differences between quality control technicians and quality leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a quality control technician, becoming a quality lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a quality lead has an average salary of $90,301, 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 lead are continuous improvement, product quality, and quality standards.
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $40,337 | $90,301 |
| Hourly rate | $19.39 | $43.41 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 98,407 | 62,018 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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 assurance (QA) lead is responsible for organizing and managing the testing of products prior to its release. Your duties will include defining testing standards and strategies, establishing formal QA processes, and overseeing all aspects of QA, such as using best practices and establishing metrics. Additionally, you are responsible for supervising and mentoring QA team members, and developing and implementing scripts, test cases, and procedures. You are also responsible for managing off quality products and developing and institutionalizing ISO complaints.
Quality control technicians and quality leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Lead | |
| Average salary | $40,337 | $90,301 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $63,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a quality control technician and a quality lead in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between quality control technicians' and quality leads' demographics:
| Quality Control Technician | Quality Lead | |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.1% Female, 36.9% | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% |
| 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, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 9.1% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |