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The differences between continuous improvement leaders and leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a continuous improvement leader and a leader. Additionally, a leader has an average salary of $86,964, 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 leader are customer service, strong time management, and excellent interpersonal.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $85,851 | $86,964 |
| Hourly rate | $41.27 | $41.81 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 35,627 | 172,293 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Leaders pave the way for a company to achieve certain goals. They are in charge of bringing the organization to greater heights. They set the direction of the organization, much like how a captain sets the sails of the ship. They are responsible for coming up with main strategies and alternatives should there be challenges along the way. Leaders ensure that the company is guided by its vision and mission and that the employees emulate company values. They do so through leading by example. Leaders should have strategic skills, decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.
Continuous improvement leaders and leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Leader | |
| Average salary | $85,851 | $86,964 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $115,000 | Between $49,000 And $153,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fall River, MA | Portland, ME |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Maine |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a continuous improvement leader and a leader in terms of educational background:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between continuous improvement leaders' and leaders' demographics:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Leader | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% |
| 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, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |