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The differences between lead quality engineers and quality leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a lead quality engineer, becoming a quality lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a lead quality engineer has an average salary of $104,296, which is higher than the $90,301 average annual salary of a quality lead.
The top three skills for a lead quality engineer include java, corrective action and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a quality lead are continuous improvement, product quality, and quality standards.
| Lead Quality Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $104,296 | $90,301 |
| Hourly rate | $50.14 | $43.41 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 81,952 | 62,018 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
A quality assurance (QA) lead is responsible for organizing and managing the testing of products prior to its release. Your duties will include defining testing standards and strategies, establishing formal QA processes, and overseeing all aspects of QA, such as using best practices and establishing metrics. Additionally, you are responsible for supervising and mentoring QA team members, and developing and implementing scripts, test cases, and procedures. You are also responsible for managing off quality products and developing and institutionalizing ISO complaints.
Lead quality engineers and quality leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Quality Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Average salary | $104,296 | $90,301 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $135,000 | Between $63,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | ||
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a lead quality engineer and a quality lead in terms of educational background:
| Lead Quality Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between lead quality engineers' and quality leads' demographics:
| Lead Quality Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% |
| 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, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 9.1% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |