Quality improvement manager vs clinical manager

The differences between quality improvement managers and clinical 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 improvement manager and a clinical manager. Additionally, a clinical manager has an average salary of $84,066, which is higher than the $78,698 average annual salary of a quality improvement manager.

The top three skills for a quality improvement manager include quality improvement, performance improvement and patients. The most important skills for a clinical manager are patients, customer service, and home health.

Quality improvement manager vs clinical manager overview

	Quality Improvement Manager	Clinical Manager
Yearly salary	$78,698	$84,066
Hourly rate	$37.84	$40.42
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	78,509	81,863
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a quality improvement manager do?

A quality improvement manager has a variety of duties and responsibilities. These include conducting research and creating quality improvement programs, developing standard operating procedures and facility policies, and performing audits to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Additionally, you will be responsible for establishing work plan metrics, analyzing performance metrics, and monitoring various department processes such as care complaints in the healthcare setting. You are also expected to review the latest industry data, clinical quality studies, and best practice interventions.

What does a clinical manager do?

A clinical manager is responsible for monitoring medical procedures and administrative duties to ensure the smooth flow of operations in a healthcare facility. Clinical managers manage the facility's staffing needs, evaluate budget reports, assist healthcare professionals on administering medical duties, and develop strategic procedures to optimize treatments and maximize productivity. A clinical manager enforces strict sanitary and safety regulations for everyone's strict compliance. They also need to have excellent knowledge of the medical industry to promote medical processes and provide the highest quality care.

Quality improvement manager vs clinical manager salary

Quality improvement managers and clinical managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Quality Improvement Manager	Clinical Manager
Average salary	$78,698	$84,066
Salary range	Between $55,000 And $111,000	Between $55,000 And $128,000
Highest paying City	San Rafael, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Oregon	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Portland General Electric	Genentech
Best paying industry	Insurance	Health Care

Differences between quality improvement manager and clinical manager education

There are a few differences between a quality improvement manager and a clinical manager in terms of educational background:

	Quality Improvement Manager	Clinical Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Quality improvement manager vs clinical manager demographics

Here are the differences between quality improvement managers' and clinical managers' demographics:

	Quality Improvement Manager	Clinical Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 41.9% Female, 58.1%	Male, 22.6% Female, 77.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between quality improvement manager and clinical manager duties and responsibilities

Quality improvement manager example responsibilities.

Manage CAPA, document control, internal audit, complaint handling, and training programs.
Manage 12 FDA and EMA inspections ensuring efficient management of observations, corrective action commitment and completion.
Manage HEDIS medical record review project and validation activities complete by auditors.
Lead and direct the organization's accreditation survey preparation for rehabilitation facilities organizations.
Serve as health plan subject matter expert for HEDIS specifications and NCQA standards and guidelines in preparation for health plan accreditation.
Coordinate annual HEDIS reporting including oversight of vendor data collection, analysis and auditing.

Clinical manager example responsibilities.

Track and manage IRB approvals.
Lead a team of 25 patient service coordinators and receptionists.
Manage and lead teams consisting of multiple internal departments as well as CRO and other vendors.
Manage data for research project billing and accountability for drug study product in accordance with FDA regulations.
Manage studies in association with the lead CRA to ensure all project expectations and milestones are meet.
Manage all facets of daily operations relating to imaging services, radiation therapy, and medical oncology services.

Quality improvement manager vs clinical manager skills

Common quality improvement manager skills

Quality Improvement, 7%
Performance Improvement, 6%
Patients, 5%
Oversight, 5%
Process Improvement, 5%
Patient Care, 5%

Common clinical manager skills

Patients, 19%
Customer Service, 8%
Home Health, 6%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Quality Patient Care, 5%
Patient Education, 3%

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Quality Improvement Manager
Quality Improvement Manager vs Clinical Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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