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The differences between lead quality engineers and project lead engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a lead quality engineer and a project lead engineer. Additionally, a project lead engineer has an average salary of $106,946, which is higher than the $104,296 average annual salary of a lead quality engineer.
The top three skills for a lead quality engineer include java, corrective action and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a project lead engineer are project management, renewable energy, and project execution.
| Lead Quality Engineer | Project Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,296 | $106,946 |
| Hourly rate | $50.14 | $51.42 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 81,952 | 98,018 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Lead quality engineers are engineering professionals who manage a team of quality assurance professionals that ensure the overall quality of manufactured products. These engineers must create comprehensive test plans and test cases to ensure that the finished products have met the client requirements. They have to develop and implement quality standards and procedures while developing internal corrective actions after performing the internal processes audits. Lead quality engineers must also provide new product quality training to members of the quality control and production team.
Project lead engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for leading other professionals in completing a particular project. These engineers must develop a project management framework to be implemented throughout the organization based on the inputs from internal stakeholders and team members. They are required to train junior team members so that they can provide proper technical support functions. Project lead engineers must also prepare and review cost estimates for a variety of projects during bidding, construction, and post-construction phases.
Lead quality engineers and project lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Quality Engineer | Project Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $104,296 | $106,946 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $135,000 | Between $78,000 And $146,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a lead quality engineer and a project lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Quality Engineer | Project Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between lead quality engineers' and project lead engineers' demographics:
| Lead Quality Engineer | Project Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 15.2% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 15.2% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |