Quality Control Tech graduates earn $86,525 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 19.4%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Occupational Health and Safety Technicians is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Quality Control Tech as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Engineering Tech and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Quality Control Tech is a focused area of study within Engineering Tech. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $86,525 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 171 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 3,540 students complete it each year, most walking away with 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?
Four years after finishing Quality Control Tech, a typical graduate earns $86,525, well above average for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $66,477 and $106,896, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
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
Not every Quality Control Tech graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. 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?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Quality Control Tech graduates show up in 4 different occupations, and Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay the most at $90,150/yr median. Expand any card below 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 equivalent3,800 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
Not sure where to study Quality Control Tech? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it 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 not the only path through Engineering Tech: 18 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
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 +19.4% over the next decade, with Occupational Health and Safety Technicians among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 28,600 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?
$86,525 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $66,477 and $106,896, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Quality Control Tech degree?
$66,418 in the first year out. That grows to $86,525 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Quality Control Tech degree?
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists are one path, and it pays a median of $90,150 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Quality Control Tech program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Quality Control Tech bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Quality Control Tech?
171 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Quality Control Tech degree worth it?
$86,525 median earnings four years out against $13,998 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Quality Control Tech and Engineering Tech?
Quality Control Tech is the narrower of the two: Engineering Tech covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Quality Control Tech-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Quality Control Tech graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Quality Control Tech graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Quality Control Tech graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field 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. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Quality Control Tech graduates?
Outlook is strong overall: related occupations average +11.0% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Occupational Health and Safety Technicians are among the strongest-growth roles at +19.4%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Engineering Tech Programs
Other programs in Engineering Tech. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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