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The differences between quality engineers and quality 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 engineer and a quality technician. Additionally, a quality engineer has an average salary of $79,672, which is higher than the $37,007 average annual salary of a quality technician.
The top three skills for a quality engineer include corrective action, continuous improvement and ISO. The most important skills for a quality technician are calipers, quality standards, and corrective action.
| Quality Engineer | Quality Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $79,672 | $37,007 |
| Hourly rate | $38.30 | $17.79 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 96,838 | 80,291 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A quality engineer's responsibilities include ensuring that the manufacturing processes are efficient and accurate, documenting findings that would raise concerns, conducting quality tests while observing parameters, and implementing changes as necessary to meet the highest quality standards. Quality engineers need to have excellent problem-solving and observation skills to detect any irregularities and possible malfunctions. They also must be able to communicate effectively with the clients for feedbacks and corrective adjustments, address complaints, and immediately resolve any inconsistencies made.
Quality systems analysts are professionals who analyze the implemented quality standards of an organization's business procedures and policies. These analysts are required to execute test plans and resolve discrepancies with their technical personnel. They must coordinate all internal audits of the quality system while implementing corrective action to their audit findings. They are required to conduct weekly meetings with development staff to discuss defects and revised business requirements. Quality systems analysts must also identify the quality training needs for operations personnel working with supervisors and quality engineers.
Quality engineers and quality technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Engineer | Quality Technician | |
| Average salary | $79,672 | $37,007 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $103,000 | Between $27,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Amphenol |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a quality engineer and a quality technician in terms of educational background:
| Quality Engineer | Quality Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between quality engineers' and quality technicians' demographics:
| Quality Engineer | Quality Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 60.4% Female, 39.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 13.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 6% |