Laboratory manager vs quality assurance director

The differences between laboratory managers and quality assurance directors 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 quality assurance director. Additionally, a quality assurance director has an average salary of $140,937, 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 quality assurance director are continuous improvement, quality standards, and oversight.

Laboratory manager vs quality assurance director overview

	Laboratory Manager	Quality Assurance Director
Yearly salary	$74,314	$140,937
Hourly rate	$35.73	$67.76
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	43,321	66,888
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	6	6

What does a laboratory manager do?

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.

What does a quality assurance director do?

The job of a quality assurance (QA) director is to oversee all QA functions across the company. Your duties typically include working closely with other department heads to deliver high-quality products on time, hiring managers and analysts, and establishing and maintaining a quality system to make sure that company guidelines and regulatory standards are met. Additionally, you will be responsible for ensuring quality by monitoring, appraising job results, and planning. You are also expected to maintain technical and professional knowledge by reviewing professional publications, participating in professional associations, and attending workshops.

Laboratory manager vs quality assurance director salary

Laboratory managers and quality assurance directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Manager	Quality Assurance Director
Average salary	$74,314	$140,937
Salary range	Between $49,000 And $111,000	Between $97,000 And $203,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Alaska
Best paying company	Meta	Upstart Network
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Professional

Differences between laboratory manager and quality assurance director education

There are a few differences between a laboratory manager and a quality assurance director in terms of educational background:

	Laboratory Manager	Quality Assurance Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common major	Biology	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Pennsylvania

Laboratory manager vs quality assurance director demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory managers' and quality assurance directors' demographics:

	Laboratory Manager	Quality Assurance Director
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6%	Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2%
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, 13.0% Asian, 9.1% White, 69.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between laboratory manager and quality assurance director duties and responsibilities

Laboratory manager example responsibilities.

Lead laboratory investigations, OOS, deviations, change controls and CAPA.
Manage daily personnel challenges, assist with marketing and maintain appropriate standards and regulations per JCAHO, DNV.
Manage staff and oversee FDA guidelines and regulations for pharmaceutical research
Initiate and manage successful in-house design and implementation of network base LIMS database.
Manage curriculum development, authore and publish lab manuals in physiology and ecology.
Manage daily laboratory operations including personnel, client consulting, analyses and adherence to GLP protocols.

Quality assurance director example responsibilities.

Manage the USDA inspection process including coordinating daily production and communicating with federal personnel.
Manage initial USDA regulatory visits, working collaboratively with USDA inspectors leading audit preparation and follow-up activities and reports.
Direct and coordinate quality and regulatory affairs activities to support new product development, improving GMP compliance.
Provide GxP support and oversight for all Genocea development programs.
Set and execute vision for QRM consistent with corporate objectives and ICH Q9.
Develop and update metrics within the QMS to provide meaningful feedback to stakeholders.

Laboratory manager vs quality assurance director skills

Common laboratory manager skills

Lab Equipment, 12%
Patients, 9%
Customer Service, 7%
Chemistry, 6%
Clinical Laboratory, 5%
Lab Safety, 5%

Common quality assurance director skills

Continuous Improvement, 8%
Quality Standards, 7%
Oversight, 5%
Test Automation, 5%
Scrum, 4%
FDA, 4%

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Laboratory Manager
Laboratory Manager vs Quality Assurance Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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