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The differences between laboratory managers and directors of quality can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a laboratory manager and a director of quality. Additionally, a director of quality has an average salary of $134,435, which is higher than the $74,314 average annual salary of a laboratory manager.
The top three skills for a laboratory manager include lab equipment, patients and customer service. The most important skills for a director of quality are healthcare, quality improvement, and patients.
| Laboratory Manager | Director Of Quality | |
| Yearly salary | $74,314 | $134,435 |
| Hourly rate | $35.73 | $64.63 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 43,321 | 65,443 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Laboratory managers provide accurate laboratory diagnosis through evaluating specimen procedures and coordinating with pathologists to validate laboratory findings. They are responsible for maintaining laboratory tools and equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of instruments before and after use, organizing equipment based on its function, and immediately repairing or replacing defective items. A laboratory manager also secures the confidentiality of laboratory systems, keeping records of results, and releasing information to the appropriate personnel. Laboratory managers must have a broad knowledge of the scientific industry, as well as excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
In the manufacturing industry, a director of quality is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing the daily operations in a quality assurance department. They work to ensure that products adhere to the company's quality standards and industry regulations by conducting research and assessments, developing quality test systems, and reviewing reports. As a director of quality, they have the authority to make significant decisions, establish protocols and guidelines, set objectives and timelines, and implement rules and policies, creating new ones as necessary.
Laboratory managers and directors of quality have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Manager | Director Of Quality | |
| Average salary | $74,314 | $134,435 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $111,000 | Between $98,000 And $183,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a laboratory manager and a director of quality in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Manager | Director Of Quality | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between laboratory managers' and directors of quality' demographics:
| Laboratory Manager | Director Of Quality | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 65.2% Female, 34.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 69.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |