Quality Control Analysts

Also called: Lab Tech, Lab Technician, Quality Assurance Technician (QA Technician), Quality Control Technician (QC Technician),

What they do:

Conduct tests to determine quality of raw materials, bulk intermediate and finished products. May conduct stability sample tests.

On the job, you would:

Conduct routine and non-routine analyses of in-process materials, raw materials, environmental samples, finished goods, or stability samples.
Interpret test results, compare them to established specifications and control limits, and make recommendations on appropriateness of data for release.
Perform visual inspections of finished products.

Math and Science

chemistry
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Arts and Humanities

English language

Engineering and Technology

computers and electronics

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

manufacture and distribution of products

Basic Skills

listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
reading work related information

Problem Solving

noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Verbal

listen and understand what people say
communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

notice when problems happen
use rules to solve problems

Visual Understanding

quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things
see hidden patterns

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

They do well at jobs that need:

Attention to Detail
Integrity
Cooperation
Adaptability/Flexibility
Dependability
Independence

You might use software like this on the job:

Program testing software

Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
Selenium

Analytical or scientific software

Minitab
The MathWorks MATLAB

Data base user interface and query software

Microsoft Access
Structured query language SQL

bachelor's degree
some college

usually needed

New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

$50,550

$30,050

$81,710