Post job

Quality technician vs quality specialist

The differences between quality technicians and quality specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a quality specialist has an average salary of $65,230, which is higher than the $37,007 average annual salary of a quality technician.

The top three skills for a quality technician include calipers, quality standards and corrective action. The most important skills for a quality specialist are customer service, data analysis, and continuous improvement.

Quality technician vs quality specialist overview

Quality TechnicianQuality Specialist
Yearly salary$37,007$65,230
Hourly rate$17.79$31.36
Growth rate3%10%
Number of jobs80,29180,316
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4544
Years of experience4-

What does a quality technician do?

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.

What does a quality specialist do?

Quality control senior scientists ensure that testing, materials, and laboratory equipment are up to standard. In the course of their career, they can expect to perform tests for the quality of manufacturing processes in order to ensure compliance with predetermined criteria, as well as ensuring that final products are safe for sale or distribution. This is a career that requires the skills of teamwork, communication, writing, and prioritization. Also, good attention to detail and some technical skills will be needed.

Quality technician vs quality specialist salary

Quality technicians and quality specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Quality TechnicianQuality Specialist
Average salary$37,007$65,230
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $50,000Between $43,000 And $98,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAmphenolMeta
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between quality technician and quality specialist education

There are a few differences between a quality technician and a quality specialist in terms of educational background:

Quality TechnicianQuality Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegePurdue UniversityWestern Carolina University

Quality technician vs quality specialist demographics

Here are the differences between quality technicians' and quality specialists' demographics:

Quality TechnicianQuality Specialist
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 60.4% Female, 39.6%Male, 44.7% Female, 55.3%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage6%11%

Differences between quality technician and quality specialist duties and responsibilities

Quality technician example responsibilities.

  • Lead Kaizen events and utilize DMAIC, A3, VSM, COPQ, SIPOC, and FMEA to drive results.
  • Train test personnel and manage QC test technicians in a fast pace environment.
  • Interview, hire, and manage HEDIS temporary staff during annual HEDIS projects.
  • Manage and improve CAPA and MRB process by reducing quantity and value of material.
  • Manage RMA return process including issuance and closure of work orders and dispositions promptly.
  • Lead quality initiatives for two production lines via lean six sigma tools; root cause analysis , 8-D, and Kaizen.
  • Show more

Quality specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage CMOs that provide Endo with API, bulk, packaging services, and/or finish goods, including clinical material.
  • Manage PPAP sample dimensional verification activities.
  • Recommend changes to organizational committee structure to achieve higher level of accountability and oversight.
  • Manage document control including initiating and revising procedures, QA approval and implementation of documents.
  • Manage performance improvement and quality improvement projects design to assess and improve health outcomes for Medicaid members.
  • Manage hospital core measures abstraction, registry abstractions and review services to assist healthcare organizations in improving performance.
  • Show more

Quality technician vs quality specialist skills

Common quality technician skills
  • Calipers, 6%
  • Quality Standards, 5%
  • Corrective Action, 4%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%
  • ISO, 4%
  • Micrometers, 4%
Common quality specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Continuous Improvement, 6%
  • Process Improvement, 5%
  • Management System, 5%
  • FDA, 5%

Browse architecture and engineering jobs