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The differences between quality laboratory technicians and process engineering 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 laboratory technician and a process engineering technician. Additionally, a process engineering technician has an average salary of $84,612, which is higher than the $38,902 average annual salary of a quality laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a quality laboratory technician include lab equipment, quality lab and test results. The most important skills for a process engineering technician are process engineering, continuous improvement, and process improvement.
| Quality Laboratory Technician | Process Engineering Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,902 | $84,612 |
| Hourly rate | $18.70 | $40.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 104,887 | 91,755 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Quality Laboratory Technician ensures that lab procedures and equipment meet a certain standard, as well as monitors production. They maintain quality service and a safe and healthy work environment through following organization standards.
A process engineering technician typically works at manufacturing facilities where they are in charge of providing technical support to engineers in an effort to optimize production operations. Their responsibilities usually include performing installations and adjustments, developing and implementing test structures, understanding blueprints and schematics, replacing components, troubleshooting problems, recommending solutions, and repairing parts as needed. A process engineering technician typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Quality laboratory technicians and process engineering technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Laboratory Technician | Process Engineering Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,902 | $84,612 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $48,000 | Between $64,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hillsboro, OR | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Idaho |
| Best paying company | OMNOVA Solutions | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a quality laboratory technician and a process engineering technician in terms of educational background:
| Quality Laboratory Technician | Process Engineering Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between quality laboratory technicians' and process engineering technicians' demographics:
| Quality Laboratory Technician | Process Engineering Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 11.2% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |