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The differences between line leaders and quality leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a line leader, becoming a quality lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a quality lead has an average salary of $90,301, which is higher than the $36,217 average annual salary of a line leader.
The top three skills for a line leader include continuous improvement, customer service and safety procedures. The most important skills for a quality lead are continuous improvement, product quality, and quality standards.
| Line Leader | Quality Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $36,217 | $90,301 |
| Hourly rate | $17.41 | $43.41 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 130,588 | 62,018 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 46 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Production line leaders or production team leaders typically work in the manufacturing industry. These leaders undertake both mental and physical work, including filing reports and paperwork, helping in order completion, and managing production assembly lines. They physically contain construction materials to ensure correct handling. Also, they oversee the varying activities within the organization or department. Among their tasks include inventory control, data entry, and product quality.
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.
Line leaders and quality leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Line Leader | Quality Lead | |
| Average salary | $36,217 | $90,301 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $55,000 | Between $63,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a line leader and a quality lead in terms of educational background:
| Line Leader | Quality Lead | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between line leaders' and quality leads' demographics:
| Line Leader | Quality Lead | |
| Average age | 46 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0% | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 4.7% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 6% | 8% |