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The differences between product quality managers and directors of quality can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a product quality manager and a director of quality. Additionally, a director of quality has an average salary of $134,435, which is higher than the $117,932 average annual salary of a product quality manager.
The top three skills for a product quality manager include continuous improvement, data analysis and project management. The most important skills for a director of quality are healthcare, quality improvement, and patients.
| Product Quality Manager | Director Of Quality | |
| Yearly salary | $117,932 | $134,435 |
| Hourly rate | $56.70 | $64.63 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 145,282 | 65,443 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Product Quality Manager's job is to inspect the quality of products to ensure that they are built with compliance and meet customer expectations. They are thorough and observant of every detail of the product. Product Quality Manager's are responsible for understanding the customer's needs to develop effective quality control processes. They also devise and review the specs of the processes or product, set requirements for intermediate products for monitor compliances. They also ensure adherence to health and safety guidelines.
In the manufacturing industry, a director of quality is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing the daily operations in a quality assurance department. They work to ensure that products adhere to the company's quality standards and industry regulations by conducting research and assessments, developing quality test systems, and reviewing reports. As a director of quality, they have the authority to make significant decisions, establish protocols and guidelines, set objectives and timelines, and implement rules and policies, creating new ones as necessary.
Product quality managers and directors of quality have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Quality Manager | Director Of Quality | |
| Average salary | $117,932 | $134,435 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $169,000 | Between $98,000 And $183,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a product quality manager and a director of quality in terms of educational background:
| Product Quality Manager | Director Of Quality | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between product quality managers' and directors of quality' demographics:
| Product Quality Manager | Director Of Quality | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.6% Female, 21.4% | Male, 65.2% Female, 34.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 69.8% 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, 69.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |