Quality Assurance Auditor - Career Profile |
Career OverviewA person employed as a quality assurance auditor is responsible for testing items produced by a company or facility against the recognized industry standards. The quality assurance auditor is really responsible for making sure that what is reported on the package is really what the product is, and that it is safe under FDA and other applicable regulations.
A quality assurance auditor needs to be very organized, have a strong analytical background as well as being familiar with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and regulations affecting the production of the final product. An understanding of the biotechnology that goes into manufacturing and developing the product is critical.
As a quality assurance auditor it is important to be able to understand written material including regulations and laws and correctly interpret their meaning. Good interpersonal skills are needed to explain new regulations and rules to team members and employees are a must. Data analysis and computer skills are essential for documentation and record keeping at all levels. Lab skills are needed to conduct the various tests as required on the products.
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Career RequirementsMany quality assurance auditors start their careers as technicians within a laboratory setting, either in a private or government facility. With lab experience and additional training, often a Bachelors level program in one of the sciences a candidate is then able to move into the quality assurance auditor position.
Some of the quality assurance auditors that work in facilities where there is simply a pass or fail criteria for the testing may only require an high school diploma, but will require additional training before moving into more independent or complex quality assurance positions.
Since the job does require an understanding of laws, regulations and good laboratory practices it is usually a requirement that the individual have several years experience working “hands-on” in a laboratory or other experimental position before becoming a quality assurance auditor.
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Job OutlookAn increase in the demand for various pharmaceutical products and the increasing age of the population has lead to a steady demand for quality assurance auditors. The need for these positions is expected to continue to increase at least until the year 2014 as reported by the United States Department of Labor. Increased standards and purity requirements for both pharmaceutical and food products have also provided additional opportunities for employment for those qualified to be quality assurance auditors.
Quality assurance auditors with strong computer and data analysis backgrounds may also find an increasing market for consulting and working on contract by contract basis with both small and large companies and agencies.
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Career TrackPharmaceutical companies often actively recruit quality assurance auditors that have significant experience and are familiar with the various laws and SOPs of the industry. Opportunities in management and supervisory positions are also available for those quality assurance auditors with a Bachelors level training or above.
Inventory control, purchasing of equipment and research design modification may also become part of the quality assurance auditors within the research or production facility. Often the quality assurance auditor is not hired full time to a facility, but may only work part-time or under contract for specific jobs or consultations.
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CompensationA Bachelors level quality assurance auditor earns, on average, approximately $18.00 per hour with less than 5 years experience. As the years of experience increase the hourly wage also rises. The top 10% of the various quality assurance auditors hired in both private and government facilities earn of $28.00 per hour.
Those quality assurance auditors that work for pharmaceutical companies and have more than 5 years experience and a 4-year science related degree can earn over $60,000 per year plus additional benefits.
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