Also called: QA Technician, Quality Control Technician
Runs tests, collects data and helps quality engineers track down problems on the production floor.
You run hardness and tensile tests in the plant lab, record the results in software and flag a trend that worries you. Then you help an engineer set up a new inspection station on the line.
Estimated.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate degree or certificate in quality technology, or experience as an inspector.
Ways in: 2-year college, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Quality Technology, Engineering Technology.
Growing slowly. No separate BLS projection.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Automated data collection and AI analytics take over much routine testing and charting; fewer techs needed.
Classes: Statistics, Chemistry, Algebra II.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-3029.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.