Home / Occupation profile / Product Quality Controllers
Print Print

Product Quality Controllers

ANZSCO ID 8393

Find Vacancies Opens in a new window

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
13,900
Future Growth
-2.7%
Weekly Earnings
$1,120
Full-Time Share
77%
Female Share
46%
Average age
43
About this data

Summary

Product Quality Controllers examine manufactured products and primary produce to ensure conformity to specifications and standards of presentation and quality.

Tasks

  • studying product specifications and taking measurements to determine conformity to specifications

  • examining and marking output for visible defects such as cracks, holes and breakages

  • making minor repairs and adjustments to products

  • compiling quality assurance reports, maintaining documentation and reporting findings

  • examining products for defects and grading produce

  • designating grading of produce and recording details of assessments according to classification system

  • collecting and labelling samples for inspection

  • recording details of sampling procedures and sources of samples

  • preparing samples and carrying out prescribed tests

Characteristics

Job Type
Labourers
Skill Level
Lower skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
8393 Product Quality Controllers This occupation is Current selected
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • University
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Analytical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Light

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers in this occupation is likely to remain stable.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
-2.7%
(or -300 jobs)
From
10,900
in 2021
To
10,700
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 11,700
2012 15,600
2013 14,000
2014 19,600
2015 11,400
2016 10,600
2017 13,900
2018 12,300
2019 17,200
2020 11,600
2021 10,900
2026 10,700

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 80% of people employed as Product Quality Controllers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 14 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Median full-time earnings are $1,120 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $965
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $1,470

    Median hourly earnings are $28, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Product Quality Controllers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,120 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.

Industries

Main industries

1
Manufacturing
61.4%
2
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
6.1%
3
Construction
5.3%
4
Wholesale Trade
5.3%
5
Other industries
21.1%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

28.0% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

30.1% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

18.6% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

11.1% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

8.6% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.4% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.6% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.6% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Product Quality Controllers All Jobs Average
NSW 28.0 31.6
VIC 30.1 25.6
QLD 18.6 20.0
SA 11.1 7.0
WA 8.6 10.8
TAS 2.4 2.0
NT 0.6 1.0
ACT 0.6 1.9


  • Around 60% of Product Quality Controllers live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.

    Victoria and South Australia have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    The regions with the largest share of workers are:

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
43
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
46%
All Jobs Average is 48%

  • The median age of Product Quality Controllers is 43 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.

    Females make up 46% of the workforce. This is similar to the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Product Quality Controllers All Jobs Average
15-19 1.7 5.0
20-24 6.9 9.3
25-34 22.3 22.9
35-44 21.9 22.0
45-54 24.5 21.6
55-59 11.4 9.0
60-64 7.6 6.0
65 and Over 3.6 4.2
Median Age 43 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Product Quality Controller. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or a university degree in a related field, such as manufacturing, engineering trades, sciences or technology.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Product Quality Controllers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 6.6 10.1
Bachelor degree 17.8 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 11.6
Certificate III/IV 20.9 21.1
Year 12 20.3 18.1
Year 11 5.7 4.8
Year 10 and below 17.7 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.

Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Product Quality Controllers who pay attention to detail, can communicate clearly and work well in a team.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 54%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 54%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 52%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 52%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 50%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 50%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 50%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 48%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 48%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 46%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 46%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 45%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 45%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 45%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 43%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 43%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 41%

    Systems evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • 39%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 39%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 37%

    Negotiation

    Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.

Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 63%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 57%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 56%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 51%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 51%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 48%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 42%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 41%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 39%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 38%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 34%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 32%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 30%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 29%

    Biology

    Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.

  • 29%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 25%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 23%

    Food production

    Planting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.

  • 22%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 21%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 17%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 57%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 55%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 55%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 52%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 52%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 52%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 50%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 50%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 48%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 48%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 48%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 48%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 48%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 46%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 46%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 46%

    Mathematics

    Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.

  • 46%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 43%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 41%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 39%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 66%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 65%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 62%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 58%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 58%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 58%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 58%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 58%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 54%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 54%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 54%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 53%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 52%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 50%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 50%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 47%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 44%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 44%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 43%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 37%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 90%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 76%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 67%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 38%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 19%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 14%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.

  • 67%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 62%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 60%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 57%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.

  • 57%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 52%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:

  • 99%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 95%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 95%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 94%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 93%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 92%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 91%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 87%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 85%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 85%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 81%

    Dangerous conditions

    Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.

  • 79%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 78%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 77%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 76%

    Repeating same tasks

    Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.

  • 73%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 70%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 70%

    Responsible for outcomes

    Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.

  • 69%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 66%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 19-4099.01 - Quality Control Analysts.

Links and downloads

Back to top