Quality assurance director vs manager, quality engineer

The differences between quality assurance directors and managers, quality engineer can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a quality assurance director, becoming a manager, quality engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a quality assurance director has an average salary of $140,937, which is higher than the $121,191 average annual salary of a manager, quality engineer.

The top three skills for a quality assurance director include continuous improvement, quality standards and oversight. The most important skills for a manager, quality engineer are quality engineering, continuous improvement, and corrective action.

Quality assurance director vs manager, quality engineer overview

	Quality Assurance Director	Manager, Quality Engineer
Yearly salary	$140,937	$121,191
Hourly rate	$67.76	$58.26
Growth rate	3%	10%
Number of jobs	66,888	90,218
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age	48	42
Years of experience	6	4

What does a quality assurance director do?

The job of a quality assurance (QA) director is to oversee all QA functions across the company. Your duties typically include working closely with other department heads to deliver high-quality products on time, hiring managers and analysts, and establishing and maintaining a quality system to make sure that company guidelines and regulatory standards are met. Additionally, you will be responsible for ensuring quality by monitoring, appraising job results, and planning. You are also expected to maintain technical and professional knowledge by reviewing professional publications, participating in professional associations, and attending workshops.

What does a manager, quality engineer do?

A quality engineer manager is in charge of designing and developing quality control procedures, ensuring all products and operations meet the company's standards. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis to identify business needs, assessing existing quality control methods to identify areas needing improvements, and providing solutions on issues and concerns. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Quality assurance director vs manager, quality engineer salary

Quality assurance directors and managers, quality engineer have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Quality Assurance Director	Manager, Quality Engineer
Average salary	$140,937	$121,191
Salary range	Between $97,000 And $203,000	Between $90,000 And $163,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	California
Best paying company	Upstart Network	Credit Karma
Best paying industry	Professional	Technology

Differences between quality assurance director and manager, quality engineer education

There are a few differences between a quality assurance director and a manager, quality engineer in terms of educational background:

	Quality Assurance Director	Manager, Quality Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Northwestern University

Quality assurance director vs manager, quality engineer demographics

Here are the differences between quality assurance directors' and managers, quality engineer' demographics:

	Quality Assurance Director	Manager, Quality Engineer
Average age	48	42
Gender ratio	Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2%	Male, 86.4% Female, 13.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 9.1% White, 69.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.1% White, 68.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	8%	4%

Differences between quality assurance director and manager, quality engineer duties and responsibilities

Quality assurance director example responsibilities.

Manage the USDA inspection process including coordinating daily production and communicating with federal personnel.
Manage initial USDA regulatory visits, working collaboratively with USDA inspectors leading audit preparation and follow-up activities and reports.
Direct and coordinate quality and regulatory affairs activities to support new product development, improving GMP compliance.
Provide GxP support and oversight for all Genocea development programs.
Set and execute vision for QRM consistent with corporate objectives and ICH Q9.
Develop and update metrics within the QMS to provide meaningful feedback to stakeholders.

Manager, quality engineer example responsibilities.

Manage APQP with customer participation and input as required by suppliers.
Manage incoming inspection and MRB to review suspect material from outside suppliers.
Ensure all QC manuals, processes, procedures and work instructions are properly manage.
Manage new product launches and their relate safety requirements, control plans, PFMEAS and APQP.
Establish and manage SW QA organizations on sector projects to include broadband, transportation, home entertainment, and personal communications.
Manage and monitor CAPA activities, including implementation and closure.

Quality assurance director vs manager, quality engineer skills

Common quality assurance director skills

Continuous Improvement, 8%
Quality Standards, 7%
Oversight, 5%
Test Automation, 5%
Scrum, 4%
FDA, 4%

Common manager, quality engineer skills

Quality Engineering, 10%
Continuous Improvement, 7%
Corrective Action, 6%
ISO, 5%
Sigma, 5%
Product Quality, 5%

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Quality Assurance Director
Quality Assurance Director vs Manager, Quality Engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

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