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The differences between laboratory managers and directors of quality management 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 management. Additionally, a director of quality management has an average salary of $114,201, 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 management are quality management, patients, and patient care.
| Laboratory Manager | Director Of Quality Management | |
| Yearly salary | $74,314 | $114,201 |
| Hourly rate | $35.73 | $54.90 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 43,321 | 128,076 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| 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.
The job of a director of quality management is to lead and direct the quality management activities of an organization. Your duties include assisting in the development, presentation, and monitoring of internal initiatives and measures, coordinating clinical outcomes tracking and reporting, and designing and implementing quality improvement studies. Additionally, as the quality management director, you will be responsible for leading the clinical pathways, including aftercare agencies, and conducting membership surveys. You will also be responsible for developing strategic plans to improve quality within the organization.
Laboratory managers and directors of quality management have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Manager | Director Of Quality Management | |
| Average salary | $74,314 | $114,201 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $111,000 | Between $80,000 And $162,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Alameda, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Children's Hospital New Orleans |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Technology |
There are a few differences between a laboratory manager and a director of quality management in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Manager | Director Of Quality Management | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between laboratory managers' and directors of quality management' demographics:
| Laboratory Manager | Director Of Quality Management | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% |
| 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, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |