jobfacts

Quality assurance technicians

SOC 2020 3115

Quality assurance technicians perform a variety of technical inspections and testing and monitoring tasks to detect processing, manufacturing and other defects.

Also calledNon-destructive testing technicianNDT technicianMaterials technicianQuality officerQuality technicianEvaluation engineerand 14 more titles
Typical full-time pay£34,0002025 Provisional
People in the job36,000across the UK
Demand for workersCritical
New adverts a month1,300↑ 4%on last year · 153rd of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time quality assurance technicians earn between £28,500 and £42,400 a year.

What full-time quality assurance technicians earn, 2025
£34,000 typical£25,900lowest 10%£43,600top 20%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£28,500–£42,400)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£25,900
Lowest 20% earn less than£28,000
25%£28,500
Median£34,000
75%£42,400
Top 20% earn more than£43,600
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £34,000
North West!£36,000
London!£35,900
Scotland!£35,200
Wales!£32,800
East Midlands!£32,300
West Midlands!£32,200
South East!£32,000
South West!£31,600
North East!£31,500
East of England!£27,300
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £34,000
North West£36,000 (small sample)
London£35,900 (small sample)
Scotland£35,200 (small sample)
Wales£32,800 (small sample)
East Midlands£32,300 (small sample)
West Midlands£32,200 (small sample)
South East£32,000 (small sample)
South West£31,600 (small sample)
North East£31,500 (small sample)
East of England£27,300 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £29,600
  • 2024 £31,300
  • 2025 Provisional£34,000
↑ 15% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 1,300 jobs for quality assurance technicians are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as critical.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (4 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20261,475
Jul 20261,549
Jun 2026Not published
May 20261,306
Apr 20261,320
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20261,131
Jan 20261,275
Dec 2025709
Nov 20251,418
Oct 20251,447
Sept 20251,346
Aug 20251,357
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 20251,471
Apr 20251,281
Mar 20251,365
Feb 20251,395
Jan 20251,162
Dec 2024726
Nov 20241,032
Oct 20241,240
Sept 20241,321
Aug 20241,266
Jul 20241,482
Jun 20241,442
May 20241,509
Apr 20241,503
Mar 20241,398
Feb 20241,472
Jan 20241,977
Dec 20231,409
Nov 20231,427
Oct 20231,524
Sept 20231,244
Aug 20231,516
Jul 20231,683
Jun 20232,213
May 20231,943
Apr 20231,617
Mar 20231,847
Feb 20232,025
Jan 20232,274
Dec 20221,813
Nov 20222,275
Oct 20222,295
Sept 20222,212
Aug 20222,420
Jul 20222,368
Jun 20222,371
May 20222,759
Apr 20222,124
Mar 20222,413
Feb 20222,412
Jan 20222,497
Dec 20211,924
Nov 20211,968
Oct 20211,967
Sept 20211,802
Aug 20211,690
Jul 20211,966
Jun 20211,898
May 20211,945
Apr 20212,089
Mar 20212,365
Feb 20211,368
Jan 20211,409
Dec 20201,293
Nov 20201,188
Oct 20201,239
Sept 20201,034
Aug 2020890
Jul 2020842
Jun 2020850
May 2020793
Apr 20201,066
Mar 20201,545
Feb 20201,988
Jan 20201,764
Dec 20191,420
Nov 20191,821
Oct 20192,190
Sept 20191,854
Aug 20192,017
Jul 20192,675
Jun 20192,483
May 20192,287
Apr 20191,577
Mar 20191,911
Feb 20191,741
Jan 20192,160
Dec 20181,382
Nov 20181,743
Oct 20181,908
Sept 20181,882
Aug 20181,824
Jul 20181,783
Jun 20181,820
May 20181,844
Apr 20181,703
Mar 20181,760
Feb 20181,794
Jan 20182,071
Dec 20171,358
Nov 20171,771
Oct 20171,848
Sept 20171,740
Aug 20171,700
Jul 20171,631
Jun 20172,187
May 20172,150
Apr 20172,020
Mar 20172,277
Feb 20171,870
Jan 20172,202
Is there a shortage of quality assurance technicians?
Critical

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was elevated.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsWell above usual
  • Wage growthWell above usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
30%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for science, engineering and production technicians, which includes quality assurance technicians. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London311
Birmingham78
Somerset69
Manchester55
West Northamptonshire52
Bristol, City of46
Coventry40
Leeds38
Milton Keynes37
Wolverhampton36
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where quality assurance technicians are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 18 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from India, Malaysia, Pakistan, ranking it 187th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of quality assurance technicians
3.7%!
24%!
31%!
23%!
16%!
2.3%!
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
16–243.7% (small sample)
25–3424% (small sample)
35–4431% (small sample)
45–5423% (small sample)
55–6416% (small sample)
65+2.3% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent33%
Higher education below degree!12%
A levels or equivalent!22%
GCSEs or equivalent!17%
Other qualifications!9.9%
No qualifications!2.7%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent33%
Higher education below degree12% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent22% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent17% (small sample)
Other qualifications9.9% (small sample)
No qualifications2.7% (small sample)

Main employers: manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery (6.8%), water collection, treatment and supply (5.6%), technical testing and analysis (4.6%), other monetary intermediation (4%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
33%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
1
from level 4
Apprenticeships take
4 years
typically

Routes in

Non-destructive testing technician

You can get into this job through:

College

You might be able to find a place as a trainee technician after doing a qualification at college.

Relevant college courses include:

  • welding
  • engineering
  • applied science
  • T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with an engineering or manufacturing company, for example:

  • Non-destructive Testing (NDT) Operator Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Non-destructive Technologies Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

With further training, you may be able to take up a place on a Non-destructive Testing Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

These take between 2 and 4 years to complete and combine on-the-job training with study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Work your way up

You can do a foundation degree in non-destructive testing (NDT) if you're already working in this field, for example in an engineering workshop or a materials testing lab.

The course is offered by the University of Northampton and is done by distance learning. You can go on to complete an NDT degree with them to qualify as an engineer.

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need Personal Certification in Non-destructive testing (PCN) to work in most industries
Further information

You can find out more about this career through The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for non-destructive testing technician. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Materials technician

You can get into this job through:

College

You could do a college course to learn some of the skills you'll need for this job. Courses include:

  • Level 3 Certificate in Laboratory Technical Skills
  • Level 3 Diploma in Engineering
  • Level 3 Diploma in Applied Science
  • T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Engineering and Manufacturing Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
  • Non-destructive Testing Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Composites Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More about this route
Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

  • have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • are in care or have been in care
  • are in prison or have been in prison

Work your way up

You could start as a lab assistant or trainee technician in a testing facility and train while you work to qualify.

Employers will expect you to have 4 or 5 GCSEs, including maths, English and a science, preferably physics or chemistry.

Some may want you to have A levels or equivalent qualifications in a subject such as applied science.

Registration and professional bodies

Further information

You can find out more about careers in materials science and engineering from:

  • Discover Materials
  • Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
  • This is Engineering

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for materials technician. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

1 for this job
Level 4About 4 years

Nuclear welding inspection technician

You gain
CSWIP or PCN Level 2 in Dye Penetrant Inspections; CSWIP or PCN Level 2 in Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI)
Leads to
The Welding Institute
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • sets up scientific, electronic, or other technical equipment to perform functional and inspection tests
  • analyses and interprets the results of tests undertaken and writes up reports upon completion
  • supervises the work of routine inspection staff and notes any defects reported
  • assists quality control engineers in undertaking production audits
  • liaises with production engineers and staff to maintain the quality of output and to develop quality management systems.
  • establishes product specifications
  • maintains equipment and systems used

Skills

  • record test data
  • create solutions to problems
  • perform test run
  • adjust engineering designs
  • analyse test data
  • read engineering drawings
  • read standard blueprints
  • collaborate with engineers
  • communicate commercial and technical issues in foreign languages
  • inspect quality of products
  • practice innovative thinking in the footwear and leather goods industries
  • reduce environmental impact of footwear manufacturing
  • resolve equipment malfunctions
  • troubleshoot

Knowledge

  • CAD software
  • engineering principles
  • engineering processes
  • mechanics
  • CAE software
  • footwear creation process
  • quality assurance procedures
  • quality standards

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for science, engineering and technology associate professionals, a group of 11 jobs that includes quality assurance technicians.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↓ 4.9%about 34,000 fewer jobs
Workers needed by 2035228,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

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