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The differences between product quality managers and product leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a product quality manager, becoming a product lead takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a product lead has an average salary of $118,828, 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 product lead are product management, project management, and architecture.
| Product Quality Manager | Product Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $117,932 | $118,828 |
| Hourly rate | $56.70 | $57.13 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 145,282 | 95,557 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 10 |
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.
A product lead is responsible for monitoring the development of new products and services of an organization, starting from brand conceptualization to official market release and distribution. Product leads identify effective product management by conducting data analysis and evaluating market statistics of customer demands. They coordinate with the clients on their specifications and requirements, including the budget limit and timely deliverables. A product lead manages the brand promotion on media platforms, creating content that adheres to the target audience.
Product quality managers and product leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Quality Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average salary | $117,932 | $118,828 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $169,000 | Between $86,000 And $163,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a product quality manager and a product lead in terms of educational background:
| Product Quality Manager | Product Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between product quality managers' and product leads' demographics:
| Product Quality Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.6% Female, 21.4% | Male, 71.1% Female, 28.9% |
| 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, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |