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The differences between associate directors, quality assurance and quality management specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an associate director, quality assurance and a quality management specialist. Additionally, an associate director, quality assurance has an average salary of $131,112, which is higher than the $70,819 average annual salary of a quality management specialist.
The top three skills for an associate director, quality assurance include qa management, FDA and GMP. The most important skills for a quality management specialist are healthcare, quality improvement, and patients.
| Associate Director, Quality Assurance | Quality Management Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $131,112 | $70,819 |
| Hourly rate | $63.03 | $34.05 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 67,521 | 128,494 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Quality analysts act as problem solvers and testers of products or services in the production phase. They are responsible for the development and support of testing, process planning, design, and execution. These professionals need to have skills such as good communication skills, logic and reasoning, information technology skills, and a creative mindset. They should also be equipped with knowledge about the testing techniques. A computer science bachelor's degree or any of its associated fields is necessary to become a quality analyst.
In the manufacturing industry, a quality management specialist is in charge of implementing and overseeing quality management procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically include gathering and analyzing data to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current operations, developing new strategies to optimize procedures, creating new quality assurance methods, maintaining records of transactions, and coordinating the workforce. Furthermore, as a quality management specialist, it is essential to implement solutions while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
Associate directors, quality assurance and quality management specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Director, Quality Assurance | Quality Management Specialist | |
| Average salary | $131,112 | $70,819 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $183,000 | Between $48,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Corcept Therapeutics | SAP |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an associate director, quality assurance and a quality management specialist in terms of educational background:
| Associate Director, Quality Assurance | Quality Management Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between associate directors, quality assurance' and quality management specialists' demographics:
| Associate Director, Quality Assurance | Quality Management Specialist | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2% | Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 9.1% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |