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Quality control director vs quality manager

The differences between quality control directors and quality 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 quality control director and a quality manager. Additionally, a quality control director has an average salary of $108,193, which is higher than the $91,357 average annual salary of a quality manager.

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

Quality control director vs quality manager overview

Quality Control DirectorQuality Manager
Yearly salary$108,193$91,357
Hourly rate$52.02$43.92
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs86,24563,422
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

What does a quality control director do?

A quality control director oversees a company's quality control operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They have the authority to make decisions, set goals, establish timelines and guidelines, delegate responsibilities and budgets among teams, liaise with key external partners, review documents, negotiate contracts, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They also monitor the workflow and performance of employees, addressing concerns and issues should they arise. Moreover, a quality control director leads and encourages the employees to reach goals, all while implementing the company's standards and regulations.

What does a quality manager do?

A quality manager is an individual who is responsible for ensuring that the level of quality of the company's product outputs is met for customers. Quality managers monitor and evaluate the internal production process so that they can produce statistical reports on the standard of quality and communicate them to upper management. To ensure health and safety standards, quality managers must create and maintain up-to-date product or process specifications. They also train employees on quality assurance standards and processes.

Quality control director vs quality manager salary

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

Quality Control DirectorQuality Manager
Average salary$108,193$91,357
Salary rangeBetween $78,000 And $149,000Between $64,000 And $128,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyGenentechMeta
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between quality control director and quality manager education

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

Quality Control DirectorQuality Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Quality control director vs quality manager demographics

Here are the differences between quality control directors' and quality managers' demographics:

Quality Control DirectorQuality Manager
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 69.4% Female, 30.6%Male, 72.1% Female, 27.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between quality control director and quality manager duties and responsibilities

Quality control director example responsibilities.

  • Provide quality oversight for the company, managing QA/QC staff on various quality functions and quality improvement initiatives.
  • Manage product release and distribution; review and approve batch records and analytical data packages for API and finish drug products.
  • Organize and manage SharePoint site for tracking and documentation purposes
  • Provide guidance and troubleshooting with HPLC, GC, and wet chemistry techniques.
  • Advise management on U.S. and foreign regulatory requirements and serve as liaison with FDA and other regulatory agencies.
  • Establish quality standards for GMP manufacturing including use of appropriate materials, environmental control, and in- process/final product safety testing.
  • Show more

Quality manager example responsibilities.

  • Achieve TS16949 accreditation during the year.
  • Plan and manage UAT test cycles with the business.
  • Manage six sigma projects concerning Sidematch claims savings $130K annually.
  • Manage drug product, API and component release for clinical and commercial.
  • Manage UAT testing, including consolidation and report out to management on test results.
  • Utilize ITAR knowledge and manage vital certifications and registrations (UL, CSA, military / aerospace).
  • Show more

Quality control director vs quality manager skills

Common quality control director skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 6%
  • Oversight, 6%
  • FDA, 6%
  • GMP, 5%
  • Product Quality, 5%
  • Regulatory Agencies, 4%
Common quality manager skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 8%
  • Corrective Action, 6%
  • Quality Standards, 5%
  • Product Quality, 5%
  • Sigma, 4%
  • Quality Management System, 4%

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