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The differences between principal 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 principal quality engineer, becoming a quality lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal quality engineer has an average salary of $103,677, which is higher than the $90,301 average annual salary of a quality lead.
The top three skills for a principal quality engineer include sigma, corrective action and ISO. The most important skills for a quality lead are continuous improvement, product quality, and quality standards.
| Principal Quality Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $103,677 | $90,301 |
| Hourly rate | $49.84 | $43.41 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 120,965 | 62,018 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Principal quality engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for providing quality engineering support and technical guidance to help the quality activities of a project. They are required to supervise the quality management system to monitor the progress of projects and ensure their timely deliveries. They must provide quality assurance (QA) solutions while evaluating the efficiency of their existing QA processes. Principal quality engineers must also identify technical risks and challenges by suggesting corrective actions and QA process improvements.
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.
Principal quality engineers and quality leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Quality Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Average salary | $103,677 | $90,301 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $133,000 | Between $63,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Palo Alto Networks | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a principal quality engineer and a quality lead in terms of educational background:
| Principal Quality Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between principal quality engineers' and quality leads' demographics:
| Principal Quality Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.8% 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% |