How to Become a Quality Engineer?
Are you thinking of becoming a Quality Engineer or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Quality Engineer, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Quality Engineer job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Quality Engineer
If you're considering starting your Quality Engineer career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Quality Engineer and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Quality Engineer career.Contents
1
Earn a Degree
To begin your Quality Engineer career path, a Bachelor's Degree in chemistry or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. A Quality Engineer internship may be required to earn your Bachelor's Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.What type of degree should you pursue to become a Quality Engineer?
88% of people working as a Quality Engineer earned a Bachelor's Degree
What skills do you need to be a Quality Engineer?
- Lean Six Sigma
- Problem Solving
- Written Communication
- Audit
- APQP
- ISO 9001
- Root Cause Analysis
- Continuous Improvement
2
Choose a Specialty in Your Field
As an Quality Engineer, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Quality Engineer field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Quality Engineer specialty.3
Get an Entry-Level Position as a Quality Engineer
Once you've acquired a Bachelor's Degree in chemistry or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Quality Engineer. In general, you can become a Quality Engineer after completing your 4 year Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Quality Engineer role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in certified b corporation.4
Advance in Your Quality Engineer Career
Following entry-level, there are several Quality Engineer career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Quality Engineer to progress to the senior quality engineer position. Each advanced Quality Engineer position requires approximately 2 years of experience at each level to advance in your Quality Engineer career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Quality Engineer career path.5
Continued Education for Your Quality Engineer Career Path
Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Quality Engineer career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Graduate Degree in chemistry can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Graduate Degree typically make $111,012 compared to $58,779 for those without that type of degree.Quality Engineer Career Path
Quality Engineer
2 - 4Years of Experience
$71K - $104K /yrMost Likely Range
Senior Quality Engineer
2 - 4Years of Experience
$114K - $178K /yrMost Likely Range
Quality Engineer IV
5 - 7Years of Experience
$108K - $160K /yrMost Likely Range
Total Pay Trajectory
Quality Engineer Career Path
New Grad Quality Engineer
Quality Engineer
Associate Manager of Quality Engineering
Senior Quality Engineer
Quality Engineer Manager
Quality Engineer IV
Senior Manager of Quality Engineering
Principal Quality Engineer
Senior Principal Quality Engineer
Associate Director of Quality Engineering
Director of Quality Engineering
Senior Director of Quality Engineering
$50K
$120K
$190K
$260K
$400K
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Related Careers in the engineering Industry
Interested in other engineering careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Quality Engineer skills. Discover some of the most common Quality Engineer career transitions, along with skills overlap.