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The differences between laboratory managers and quality assurance managers 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 manager. Additionally, a quality assurance manager has an average salary of $99,894, 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 manager are continuous improvement, product quality, and corrective action.
| Laboratory Manager | Quality Assurance Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $74,314 | $99,894 |
| Hourly rate | $35.73 | $48.03 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 43,321 | 62,293 |
| 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.
A Quality Assurance Manager's responsibility varies on the organization or industry where one is assigned. Most of the time, the duties will revolve around quality control, such as overseeing a company's manufacturing operations, ensuring that the process followed all of the necessary protocols, and the products met all of the standards in adherence to the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, one must be able to detect and identify mistakes, conduct constant inspections, coordinate with various staff and supervisors, develop the workforce's quality by training employees, and come up with strategies that will help the company attain financial gains.
Laboratory managers and quality assurance managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Manager | Quality Assurance Manager | |
| Average salary | $74,314 | $99,894 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $111,000 | Between $70,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a laboratory manager and a quality assurance manager in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Manager | Quality Assurance Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between laboratory managers' and quality assurance managers' demographics:
| Laboratory Manager | Quality Assurance Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 67.1% Female, 32.9% |
| 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, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |