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The differences between manufacturing quality managers and laboratory managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a manufacturing quality manager and a laboratory manager. Additionally, a manufacturing quality manager has an average salary of $121,115, which is higher than the $74,314 average annual salary of a laboratory manager.
The top three skills for a manufacturing quality manager include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and ISO. The most important skills for a laboratory manager are lab equipment, patients, and customer service.
| Manufacturing Quality Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $121,115 | $74,314 |
| Hourly rate | $58.23 | $35.73 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 88,190 | 43,321 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A manufacturing quality manager ensures the manufacturing processes and products meet minimum standards of quality. In this position, they are required to ensure a certain level of quality is met, understand customer needs and requirements, develop quality control processes that meet the requirements provided, review specifications for products and processes, inspect final products to ensure they comply with legal standards, and set requirements for raw materials from suppliers.
Laboratory managers provide accurate laboratory diagnosis through evaluating specimen procedures and coordinating with pathologists to validate laboratory findings. They are responsible for maintaining laboratory tools and equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of instruments before and after use, organizing equipment based on its function, and immediately repairing or replacing defective items. A laboratory manager also secures the confidentiality of laboratory systems, keeping records of results, and releasing information to the appropriate personnel. Laboratory managers must have a broad knowledge of the scientific industry, as well as excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Manufacturing quality managers and laboratory managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Quality Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Average salary | $121,115 | $74,314 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $178,000 | Between $49,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing quality manager and a laboratory manager in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Quality Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing quality managers' and laboratory managers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Quality Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |