Maybe you’re thinking about starting a career as a Quality Technician, or perhaps you’re looking to make the next move in your manufacturing career. Either way, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll walk you through what a career as a Quality Technician looks like and how much you can expect to earn in the role. With this knowledge, you should have enough information to decide whether or not to take the next step and begin the job search process. Let’s dive in!
What Does a Quality Technician Do?
As a Quality Technician, you will be responsible for checking products to meet quality standards before they hit the shelves. Daily responsibilities include reading specifications and blueprints, making recommendations for adjustments to assembly and production processes, determining whether to accept or reject items, inspecting and testing materials and products, and reporting inspection results.
Quality Technicians work in industries as varied as toy production to medical equipment and parts manufacturing. They may work in factories, warehouses, or office settings, and the work may involve standing for long periods and lifting and moving heavy objects.
What are the Education Requirements for Quality Technicians?
Becoming a Quality Technician is an excellent choice for those looking to secure a career that doesn’t require an expensive four-year degree. Many Quality Technician positions only require a high school degree or GED certificate, with on-the-job training to speed up what you need to know.
Our data finds that 38% of people starting in this career have a high school diploma or less education background. Obtaining certification from the American Society for Quality can help those without a four-year degree stand out from the crowd. You can also receive Quality Technician Certification from your local community college. Some positions in more technical fields may require a specific degree like chemistry, engineering, or computer science. Similarly, Quality Technicians working in food manufacturing or agriculture might need a degree program in nutrition or food safety management. If this sounds up your alley, read on, and we’ll walk you through the average Quality Technician salary.
How Much Does a Quality Technician Make and Which Regions Offer the Highest Salaries?
According to our data, the average Quality Technician salary is $63,940, with $38,081 in the lower range and $95,710 in the higher percentile. The compensation you can expect to receive will vary depending on the company, geographic region, cost of living, degree of work experience, and educational background.
Based on data collected in 2021 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top highest paying states include Alaska, North Dakota, and Washington. Further, Alaska and North Dakota (West) rank among the top highest paying non-metropolitan areas, while Washington and North Dakota (Bismark) rank among the highest paying metropolitan areas. The maximum average annual Quality Technician salaries, represented under the category of Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are delineated below:
By State
- Alaska - $72,200
- North Dakota - $69,010
- Washington - $60,130
By Metropolitan Areas
- Odessa, TX - $70,950
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA - $66,260
- Bismarck, ND - $64,940
By Non-Metropolitan Areas
- West North Dakota - $88,150
- Alaska - $80,420
- Northern New Mexico - $60,570
Now that you understand the pay rate of a Quality Technician—and the regions with the highest average salaries—you should have a better idea of what you stand to earn. If you want to look ahead further, we’ll explain what typical next career moves look like.
What is the Career Path for a Quality Technician?
As with any job, your career does not end once you land a Quality Technician position. Understanding where your career as a Quality Technician can take you next is essential for deciding if it’s a good fit for your career goals. Standard roles for career advancement are jobs like Quality Supervisor, Quality Engineer, and Production Supervisor. Quality Supervisors’ work is similar to Quality Technicians, but supervisors take on a more managerial part.
Meanwhile, Quality Engineers work closely to ensure quality standards are met throughout the production process, including developing tests and establishing acceptable criteria to measure quality. Production Supervisors are the first-line management of a production team directly responsible for overseeing and organizing the equipment, staff, and processes on a production floor.
These are the average salaries for these roles, based on our data:
- Quality Supervisor - $105,480
- Quality Engineer - $75,550
- Production Supervisor - $73,310
We hope this guide was an excellent help for you to determine whether or not that Quality Technician job makes sense for your career interests, skills, and aspirations. If you’re searching for an exciting opportunity, visit our job board for positions with top manufacturing companies. Our Career Coach services are also available if you want job matches tailored to your goals and skills.
.svg)
