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The differences between continuous improvement leaders and continuous improvement managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a continuous improvement leader, becoming a continuous improvement manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a continuous improvement manager has an average salary of $99,644, which is higher than the $85,851 average annual salary of a continuous improvement leader.
The top three skills for a continuous improvement leader include lean six sigma, sigma and process improvement. The most important skills for a continuous improvement manager are lean six sigma, sigma, and continuous improvement.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $85,851 | $99,644 |
| Hourly rate | $41.27 | $47.91 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 35,627 | 154,463 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A continuous improvement leader is an individual who is responsible for measuring and testing procedures to improve production efficiency in a company. Continuous improvement leaders must work closely with human resources employees or trainers so that they can develop a curriculum to bring hires to their peak efficiency quickly. They are required to improve processes and systems in the company as well as implement programs that have continuing long-term benefits. Continuous improvement leaders must also supervise and direct the work of staff members of the CI department.
A Continuous Improvement Manager initiates and facilitates lean improvement programs and activities. They ensure that progress is maintained on an ongoing basis.
Continuous improvement leaders and continuous improvement managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Average salary | $85,851 | $99,644 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $115,000 | Between $74,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fall River, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Bunge | |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a continuous improvement leader and a continuous improvement manager in terms of educational background:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between continuous improvement leaders' and continuous improvement managers' demographics:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 10% |