Quality Control Tech graduates earn $86,525 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 12.5%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
Quality Control Tech is a focused area of study within Engineering Tech. Graduates typically earn around $86,525 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. The program is available at 171 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 3,540 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$66,418
Median Earnings · 4yr
$86,525
Colleges Offering
171
Graduates / Year
3,540
Avg Net Price / yr
$13,998
How Much Do Quality Control Tech Graduates Earn?
Quality Control Tech graduates earn $86,525 four years out, well above average for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $66,477 and $106,896.
$66,418
1 Year After Graduation
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$86,525
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$84,705
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a wide earnings spread across Quality Control Tech graduates. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$66,47725th pct.
$86,525Median
$106,89675th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $86,525 against an estimated $55,992 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 31 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 3,540 students who complete Quality Control Tech programs each year, the majority (48%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
20%48%23%
Bachelor's48%
Master's23%
Associate's20%
What Can You Do With a Quality Control Tech Degree?
Quality Control Tech connects to 4 occupations in the job market. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists leads at $90,150/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Active ListeningWritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionSocial Perceptiveness
Day-to-day responsibilities
Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.
Recommend measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
Develop or maintain hygiene programs, such as noise surveys, continuous atmosphere monitoring, ventilation surveys, or asbestos management plans.
Order suspension of activities that pose threats to workers' health or safety.
Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products.
Study time, motion, methods, or speed involved in maintenance, production, or other operations to establish standard production rate or improve efficiency.
High school diploma or equivalent3,400 openings/yr31K employed nationally
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingWriting
Day-to-day responsibilities
Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.
Evaluate situations or make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.
Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.
Train workers in safety procedures related to green jobs, such as the use of fall protection devices or maintenance of proper ventilation during wind turbine construction.
Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientists. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.
Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
Top Colleges for Quality Control Tech
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Quality Control Tech students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Quality Control Tech graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Engineering Tech Programs
Quality Control Tech is one of 19 specializations within Engineering Tech. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Quality Control Tech program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Quality Control Tech a solid option. The 4 strengths and 0 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $86,525 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $66,418 at graduation to $86,525 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +12.5% over the next decade, with Occupational Health and Safety Specialists among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 25,700 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Quality Control Tech Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Quality Control Tech graduates earn?
Quality Control Tech graduates earn a national median of $86,525 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $66,477 and $106,896. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Quality Control Tech degree?
One year after graduation, Quality Control Tech degree holders earn a median of $66,418. That climbs to $86,525 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Quality Control Tech degree?
Quality Control Tech degree holders pursue careers including Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, which pays a median of $90,150/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Quality Control Tech program take?
A Quality Control Tech bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.
How many colleges offer Quality Control Tech?
171 colleges and universities in the United States offer Quality Control Tech programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Quality Control Tech degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $86,525 and an average net price of roughly $13,998/yr, a Quality Control Tech degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Quality Control Tech and Engineering Tech?
Quality Control Tech is a focused concentration within the broader Engineering Tech field. The Engineering Tech major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Quality Control Tech-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Quality Control Tech graduates?
Employers hiring Quality Control Tech graduates consistently prioritize analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework.
Is graduate school worth it for Quality Control Tech graduates?
In STEM fields, a master's degree can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential, depending on specialization. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Quality Control Tech graduates?
The job outlook for Quality Control Tech graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +6.0% job growth over the next 10 years. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists is among the strongest-growth roles at +12.5%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Engineering Tech Programs
Other programs in Engineering Tech. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
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Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
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Applied degree
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STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
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