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Water quality technician vs quality technician

The differences between water quality technicians and quality technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a water quality technician, becoming a quality technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a water quality technician has an average salary of $39,725, which is higher than the $37,007 average annual salary of a quality technician.

The top three skills for a water quality technician include laboratory equipment, data collection and EPA. The most important skills for a quality technician are calipers, quality standards, and corrective action.

Water quality technician vs quality technician overview

Water Quality TechnicianQuality Technician
Yearly salary$39,725$37,007
Hourly rate$19.10$17.79
Growth rate9%3%
Number of jobs70,99280,291
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age3845
Years of experience24

What does a water quality technician do?

Water quality technicians are tasked with monitoring and testing water supplies and ensuring that a particular body of water is safe. They perform various duties, which include sampling, inspecting, and testing water. They work with surface and groundwater sources. They evaluate and report the condition and features of various water samples and sources. The main goal of this job is to ensure public safety, environmental sustainability, and data integrity.

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.

Water quality technician vs quality technician salary

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

Water Quality TechnicianQuality Technician
Average salary$39,725$37,007
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $61,000Between $27,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City-Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Amphenol
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between water quality technician and quality technician education

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

Water Quality TechnicianQuality Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBiologyBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityPurdue University

Water quality technician vs quality technician demographics

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

Water Quality TechnicianQuality Technician
Average age3845
Gender ratioMale, 67.2% Female, 32.8%Male, 60.4% Female, 39.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 10.2% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%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 Percentage8%6%

Differences between water quality technician and quality technician duties and responsibilities

Water quality technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
  • Collect and migrate GIS data using field instrumentation such as computers, ArcPad, and GPS units.
  • Operate GPS to assure coordinates and accuracy of reporting.
  • Check network connectivity to HVAC units physically and through the end user workstation.
  • Conduct internal ISO audits of shipping/receiving, inventory, returns management and repair operations.
  • Verify part conformance to specification of injection mold components according to requirements detail on inspection cards or SPC files.
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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.
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Water quality technician vs quality technician skills

Common water quality technician skills
  • Laboratory Equipment, 16%
  • Data Collection, 8%
  • EPA, 7%
  • GPS, 7%
  • Water Treatment, 7%
  • Water Quality Data, 6%
Common quality technician skills
  • Calipers, 6%
  • Quality Standards, 5%
  • Corrective Action, 4%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%
  • ISO, 4%
  • Micrometers, 4%

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