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The differences between product quality managers and quality control 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 product quality manager and a quality control manager. Additionally, a product quality manager has an average salary of $117,932, which is higher than the $87,679 average annual salary of a quality control manager.
The top three skills for a product quality manager include continuous improvement, data analysis and project management. The most important skills for a quality control manager are product quality, quality procedures, and OSHA.
| Product Quality Manager | Quality Control Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $117,932 | $87,679 |
| Hourly rate | $56.70 | $42.15 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 145,282 | 82,389 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| 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.
A quality control manager is responsible for checking the quality of products and materials, especially for release and delivery, ensuring that the items are free of any defects. Quality control managers coordinate with other organization heads to develop effective processes to maintain and improve the products' efficiency, following the regulatory procedures and standard protocols. They monitor production, identify areas of improvement, inspect the finished products, and adjust product development techniques based on the client's specifications. A quality control manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the production team and address concerns immediately.
Product quality managers and quality control managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Quality Manager | Quality Control Manager | |
| Average salary | $117,932 | $87,679 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $169,000 | Between $62,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fall River, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a product quality manager and a quality control manager in terms of educational background:
| Product Quality Manager | Quality Control Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between product quality managers' and quality control managers' demographics:
| Product Quality Manager | Quality Control Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.6% Female, 21.4% | Male, 76.1% Female, 23.9% |
| 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, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 69.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |