by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 49 U.S. colleges awarded 442 degrees and certificates in Quality Control Technology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 69% of graduates. College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Quality Control Technology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $67,389 one year after completing, rising to $83,883 after four years.
Studying Quality Control Technology explores Quality Control Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Basic Engineering Principles And Technical Skills In Support Of Engineers And Other Professionals Engaged In Maintaining Consistent Manufacturing And Construction Standards. Includes Instruction In Quality Control Systems Management Principles, Technical Standards Applicable To Specific Engineering And Manufacturing Projects, Testing Procedures, Inspection Procedures, Related Instrumentation And Equipment Operation And Maintenance, And Report Preparation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, quality control technology is a widely-pursued major, with 442 degrees awarded annually. 49 colleges award quality control technology degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 48.
By level, the 442 awards include 65 certificates, 71 associate degrees and 306 master’s degrees.
Women earned 28% of quality control technology degrees and certificates in the latest year (125 of 442). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (257) and Hispanic or Latino (71), and international students earned 16.
College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Quality Control Technology Schools ranking, including 4 for associate degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks quality control technology schools within 2 states. In all, 49 colleges offer quality control technology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Quality Control Technology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common quality control technology credential is the master’s degree: 306 of the 442 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to quality control technology call most for Quality Control Analysis, Writing and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Production and Processing, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Near Vision.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a quality control technology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 65 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 71 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 306 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to quality control technology, at 69.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 69.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 26.9% |
| Some college courses | 2.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Quality Control Technology, with an average median salary of $42,864; the strongest outlook belongs to Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, at 12.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Steel Inspector, Spring Inspector, Proof Inspector and Inspector.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to quality control technology, at 181,891.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 181,891 | 12.1% |
Quality Control Technology graduates earn a median $67,389 one year after completing their program, $83,883 after four years and $79,621 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,389 |
| 4 years | $83,883 |
| 5 years | $79,621 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to quality control technology, with a median salary of $42,864.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $42,864 |
Quality Control Technology has 3 similar majors in the Engineering Technologies field, which together award 3,935 degrees a year; the largest are Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician (3,546), Industrial Safety Technology/Technician (268) and Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other (121). Browse all Engineering Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician | 3,546 |
| Industrial Safety Technology/Technician | 268 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other | 121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
