Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between product quality managers and quality leads 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 lead. Additionally, a product quality manager has an average salary of $117,932, which is higher than the $90,301 average annual salary of a quality lead.
The top three skills for a product quality manager include continuous improvement, data analysis and project management. The most important skills for a quality lead are continuous improvement, product quality, and quality standards.
| Product Quality Manager | Quality Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $117,932 | $90,301 |
| Hourly rate | $56.70 | $43.41 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 145,282 | 62,018 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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 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.
Product quality managers and quality leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Quality Manager | Quality Lead | |
| Average salary | $117,932 | $90,301 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $169,000 | Between $63,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a product quality manager and a quality lead in terms of educational background:
| Product Quality Manager | Quality Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between product quality managers' and quality leads' demographics:
| Product Quality Manager | Quality Lead | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.6% Female, 21.4% | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% |
| 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, 13.1% Asian, 9.1% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |