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Manager, software quality assurance vs release manager

The differences between managers, software quality assurance and release managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a manager, software quality assurance, becoming a release manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a manager, software quality assurance has an average salary of $122,736, which is higher than the $109,886 average annual salary of a release manager.

The top three skills for a manager, software quality assurance include software quality, software development and test cases. The most important skills for a release manager are release management, project management, and software development.

Manager, software quality assurance vs release manager overview

Manager, Software Quality AssuranceRelease Manager
Yearly salary$122,736$109,886
Hourly rate$59.01$52.83
Growth rate21%21%
Number of jobs108,57038,547
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4444
Years of experience46

What does a manager, software quality assurance do?

Software Quality Assurance Managers are responsible for overseeing the entire development process of software in ensuring they comply with the organization's standards. Their duties include implementing test case documentation, conducting a document risk analysis, recording test results, perform automated test coding, determine product quality benchmarks, and streamlining testing processes. Besides that, they are involved in identifying software bugs, discovering user problems, assessing product features, analyzing user interface functionality, and researching new technologies.

What does a release manager do?

A release manager is responsible for supervising project releases across various platforms by closely coordinating with technology and project teams, ensuring the stability and efficiency of outputs according to clients' specifications and business needs. Release managers handle the delivery management procedures from conceptualization to production, maintaining budget requirements and adherence to timetables. They also perform quality check processes to identify possible defects and inconsistencies with the deliverables and adjusting initial project plans as needed.

Manager, software quality assurance vs release manager salary

Managers, software quality assurance and release managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Manager, Software Quality AssuranceRelease Manager
Average salary$122,736$109,886
Salary rangeBetween $92,000 And $163,000Between $81,000 And $147,000
Highest paying CityNapa, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyGoogleMeta
Best paying industryRetailRetail

Differences between manager, software quality assurance and release manager education

There are a few differences between a manager, software quality assurance and a release manager in terms of educational background:

Manager, Software Quality AssuranceRelease Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Manager, software quality assurance vs release manager demographics

Here are the differences between managers, software quality assurance' and release managers' demographics:

Manager, Software Quality AssuranceRelease Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 73.0% Female, 27.0%Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between manager, software quality assurance and release manager duties and responsibilities

Manager, software quality assurance example responsibilities.

  • Lead white box testing for the voice driven Java portal, integrate with a C++ VoiceXml engine
  • Develop JAVA program to automate status and configuration data collection from test-beds to support root cause analysis process.
  • Use JIRA defect tracking tool to track defects from QA testing to ensure defects are successfully manage throughout the testing life-cycle.
  • Manage software security assessment effort to identify products' security vulnerabilities throughout SDLC.
  • Manage all documentation and equipment require for QA to effectively complete testing tasks.
  • Replace a paper/pencil driven reporting process with a SQL database to automate data collection and reporting for entire customer facing organization.
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Release manager example responsibilities.

  • Used ruby to manage different templates in puppet modules.
  • Create, manage and write UAT process and test cases.
  • Manage configuration and log files with custom written PowerShell scripts.
  • Manage testing of new software updates and assist in debugging computer programs.
  • Programme shell scripts and manage multiple processes on both Linux and Unix environments.
  • Manage J2EE base large scale commercial enterprise software product releases and client accounts.
  • Show more

Manager, software quality assurance vs release manager skills

Common manager, software quality assurance skills
  • Software Quality, 7%
  • Software Development, 7%
  • Test Cases, 4%
  • Test Automation, 4%
  • SQA, 4%
  • Java, 3%
Common release manager skills
  • Release Management, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Software Development, 5%
  • Jira, 4%
  • Release Process, 4%
  • QA, 4%

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