Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
What graduates really earn, where the degree pays off most, and whether the numbers add up for you.
Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)
Best Schools for Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians by Earnings
| # | School | 4yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Washington University WA · Public | $97,869 |
| 2 | Columbia Southern University AL · Private | $94,480 |
| 3 | Eastern Kentucky University KY · Public | $92,289 |
| 4 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania PA · Public | $91,742 |
| 5 | Jacksonville State University AL · Public | $90,850 |
| 6 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus PA · Public | $90,257 |
| 7 | Keene State College NH · Public | $87,710 |
| 8 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania PA · Public | $84,783 |
| 9 | University of Central Missouri MO · Public | $84,738 |
| 10 | Murray State University KY · Public | $84,705 |
| 11 | Waldorf University IA · Private | $83,151 |
| 12 | Southeastern Louisiana University LA · Public | $83,039 |
| 13 | Indiana State University IN · Public | $82,303 |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater WI · Public | $81,385 |
| 15 | Grand Valley State University MI · Public | $80,398 |
| 16 | Fairmont State University WV · Public | $74,806 |
| 17 | Northeastern State University OK · Public | $69,276 |
| 18 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University OK · Public | $66,785 |
| 19 | University of Houston-Downtown TX · Public | $58,535 |
School-by-school analysis: Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
Editorial breakdowns of how quality control and safety technologies/technicians graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.
Quality Control and Safety (521 graduates) earns $78,532 year-one and $94,480 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.362 (ROI grade B). Similar to fire protection, this program primarily serves employed safety professionals in manufacturing, construction, and industrial settings. The outcomes are driven by the pre-existing careers of the students, not solely by the credential.
30 graduates, $57,466 year-one, $90,850 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.413 and median debt $23,709. An often-overlooked technical program with strong earnings - year-four of $90,850 is the second-highest four-year figure at JSU. Quality control and safety technicians serve manufacturing, defense, and industrial sectors with high labor demand in the Southeast. Students interested in technical careers who want strong earnings without CS or engineering should examine this program.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies (44 graduates) earns $68,996 year-one and $90,257 at year four - exceptional outcomes for a PASSHE institution. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.381 (ROI grade B) with median debt of $26,288 confirms the math is strong. This is IUP's highest-returning technical program. Industrial safety and quality roles in manufacturing, healthcare, and government are stable nationally. For students willing to target this field, IUP's program delivers real return.
Quality Control/Safety Tech is Keene's surprise flagship ROI program with 62 graduates per year - one of the largest cohorts on campus. Graduates earn $63,479 at one year and $87,710 at four years against $26,000 of debt - a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. The four-year earnings figure is exceptional and reflects strong demand in New England manufacturing, environmental compliance, and OSHA/safety roles. This is genuinely the best ROI track at Keene.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies is the highest-volume strong-ROI program at SRU: 176 graduates, $67,072 year-one, $84,783 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.373 (ROI grade B). This program - which feeds into occupational health, manufacturing safety, and regulatory compliance - produces graduates who earn above the institutional median and carry comparable debt. The volume here is notable: more graduates come from this program than from nursing and CS combined, making it a genuine institutional strength rather than a niche outlier.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies (48 graduates) earns a B grade: $66,418 year-one and $84,705 year-four with $25,000 median debt and a ratio of 0.376. This is an unusual but high-performing program - safety and quality assurance professionals are in demand in manufacturing and industrial sectors, which are significant employers in the Kentucky-Tennessee region. The four-year growth to $85k confirms strong career earnings in this technical specialty.
Is Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians Worth It?
The Numbers Support This Major
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians pays off for most graduates. The average is $63,625 four years out - enough to handle student debt and start getting ahead. The ROI is solid; what moves it up or down is where you go and what you specialize in.
This is a more specialized field, offered at 20 schools in our data. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so weigh each aid offer closely.
The top earner here is Columbia Southern University, where graduates pull $78,532 four years out. But an average hides a wide spread - where you go, and what you do with the degree, matter as much as the major itself.
Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.