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The differences between semiconductor engineers and quality 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 semiconductor engineer and a quality engineer. Additionally, a semiconductor engineer has an average salary of $96,951, which is higher than the $79,672 average annual salary of a quality engineer.
The top three skills for a semiconductor engineer include data analysis, RF and failure analysis. The most important skills for a quality engineer are corrective action, continuous improvement, and ISO.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,951 | $79,672 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $38.30 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 37,162 | 96,838 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
As a semiconductor engineer, your main job is to make semiconductors that are mostly made out of silicon. You have to create electrical products that enable the integration of workers, materials, and machines. Semiconductor engineers increase the efficiency of these semiconductors and develop new technologies for creating semiconductors for electric circuitry.
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.
Semiconductor engineers and quality engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,951 | $79,672 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $134,000 | Between $61,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a semiconductor engineer and a quality engineer in terms of educational background:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between semiconductor engineers' and quality engineers' demographics:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.0% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |