Process improvement manager vs line manager

The differences between process improvement managers and line 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 process improvement manager and a line manager. Additionally, a process improvement manager has an average salary of $105,454, which is higher than the $56,406 average annual salary of a line manager.

The top three skills for a process improvement manager include sigma, lean six sigma and project management. The most important skills for a line manager are client facing, continuous improvement, and service line.

Process improvement manager vs line manager overview

	Process Improvement Manager	Line Manager
Yearly salary	$105,454	$56,406
Hourly rate	$50.70	$27.12
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	177,168	369,491
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	6	6

What does a process improvement manager do?

Process Improvement Managers oversee the operational processes of the company. These processes are usually related to production, sales, marketing, human resources, or finance. Process Improvement Managers are in charge of creating policies and procedures to guide the company's different departments. They analyze related data and craft recommendations to improve the procedures. They ensure that their recommendations lead to higher efficiency. Process Improvement Managers also ensure that these new processes are implemented properly and yield results.

What does a line manager do?

As line managers, they oversee other employees and the business operations while reporting to a higher manager. They play a significant role in the operation of the business from supervising and managing workers daily and acting as a link to upper management and employees. It is part of their responsibility to recruit and hire talent to fill team positions, provide training and learning to new hires, and ensuring that the employees are doing their jobs effectively and efficiently.

Process improvement manager vs line manager salary

Process improvement managers and line managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Process Improvement Manager	Line Manager
Average salary	$105,454	$56,406
Salary range	Between $80,000 And $137,000	Between $27,000 And $116,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	New Brunswick, NJ
Highest paying state	New York	New Jersey
Best paying company	Meta	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Technology	-

Differences between process improvement manager and line manager education

There are a few differences between a process improvement manager and a line manager in terms of educational background:

	Process Improvement Manager	Line Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Process improvement manager vs line manager demographics

Here are the differences between process improvement managers' and line managers' demographics:

	Process Improvement Manager	Line Manager
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 69.0% Female, 31.0%	Male, 64.7% Female, 35.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between process improvement manager and line manager duties and responsibilities

Process improvement manager example responsibilities.

Manage enterprise applications such as ERP, CRM and commissions calculating software.
Manage projects and require personnel utilizing PMI tools and best practices from project initiation to close down.
Lead department through SharePoint implementation.
Focus are process, resource management and governance improvement opportunities to achieve breakthrough performance.
Lead successful, on-time, and on budget implementation of antiquate plant systems infrastructure and manufacturing enterprise applications.
Coordinate product re-launch project to execute Kanban program achieving target inventory level requirements improving lead time reduction from 12wks to 2wks.

Line manager example responsibilities.

Lead the team in successfully meeting FDA and GMP requirements.
Manage project developing integration and process flows for fab expansion doubling the area and moving to a larger wafer.
Manage team of database administrators, database technicians and systems administrators responsible for maintaining all production, development and QA systems.
Define and enforce GMP's to subordinates.
Train in FDA standards for food industry.
Establish and measure KPI's ensuring all departments maintain the highest levels of performance.

Process improvement manager vs line manager skills

Common process improvement manager skills

Sigma, 15%
Lean Six Sigma, 13%
Project Management, 10%
Process Improvement, 8%
Kaizen, 3%
Value Stream, 3%

Common line manager skills

Client Facing, 11%
Continuous Improvement, 7%
Service Line, 6%
Customer Satisfaction, 6%
Direct Reports, 5%
Process Improvement, 4%

Process Improvement Manager vs. similar jobs

Process Improvement Manager related careers

Process Improvement Manager related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Executive Management Industry
Process Improvement Manager
Process Improvement Manager vs Line Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs