Quality Control Technician

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Work Tasks

• Test products to make sure they are safe, well designed, and work as intended
• Make sure products are long-lasting and problem free
• Record test data on graphs and charts
• Write summary reports
• Work in offices, labs, and drafting rooms for food, drug, and chemical industries, the government, and production plants of all kinds
• Work with plans, drawings, diagrams, centrifuges, agitators, condensers, lab equipment, samples of products, reports, graphs, charts, and chemical, math, and physical formulas

Salary, Size & Growth

• $49,500 average per year ($23.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (61,600 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.7% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A high school diploma and courses in production technology
• Employers Prefer: A 2-year degree in quality control technology
• Skills/Courses: Courses in algebra, trigonometry, science, engineering, and technology
• Certification/Licensing: Certification is available.