Quality Control Engineers
Overview
Introduction
Quality control engineers plan and direct procedures and activities that will ensure the quality of materials and goods. They select the best techniques for a specific process or method, determine the level of quality needed, and take the necessary action to maintain or improve quality performance. They oversee the work of technicians, who help them in devising quality control procedures and methods, implement quality control techniques, test and inspect products during different phases of production, and compile and evaluate statis...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Earnings vary according to the type of work, the industry, and the geographical location. According to a winter 2020 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average beginning salary for new graduates with bachelor's degrees in engineering was $69,961. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median yearly income for industrial production managers (a category that...
Work Environment
Quality control engineers work in a variety of settings, and their conditions of work vary accordingly. Most work in manufacturing plants, though the type of industry determines the actual environment. For example, quality control engineers in the metals industry usually work in foundries or iron and steel plants. Conditions there are hot, dirty, and noisy. Other factories, such as those in the...
Outlook
The employment outlook for quality control engineers and technicians depends, to some degree, on general economic conditions. Through 2029, the U.S. Department of Labor projects an increase in employment of 1 percent, slower than the average, for the field of industrial production management, which includes quality control engineers and technicians. One recent factor contributing to slow employ...
