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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 | Release Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $122,736 | $109,886 |
| Hourly rate | $59.01 | $52.83 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 108,570 | 38,547 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
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.
Managers, software quality assurance and release managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manager, Software Quality Assurance | Release Manager | |
| Average salary | $122,736 | $109,886 |
| Salary range | Between $92,000 And $163,000 | Between $81,000 And $147,000 |
| Highest paying City | Napa, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between a manager, software quality assurance and a release manager in terms of educational background:
| Manager, Software Quality Assurance | Release Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between managers, software quality assurance' and release managers' demographics:
| Manager, Software Quality Assurance | Release Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% | Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 11% | 11% |