Quality improvement specialist vs operations associate

The differences between quality improvement specialists and operations associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a quality improvement specialist has an average salary of $67,474, which is higher than the $52,703 average annual salary of an operations associate.

The top three skills for a quality improvement specialist include performance improvement, quality improvement and data collection. The most important skills for an operations associate are customer service, sales floor, and basic math.

Quality improvement specialist vs operations associate overview

	Quality Improvement Specialist	Operations Associate
Yearly salary	$67,474	$52,703
Hourly rate	$32.44	$25.34
Growth rate	28%	-8%
Number of jobs	80,504	70,275
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	-	-

What does a quality improvement specialist do?

A Quality Improvement Specialist in the healthcare system ensures all data and information from patients are correctly handled and coordinates care to the patient. It is the quality improvement specialist's job to ensure that patients get the quality care they needed by creating, developing, and implementing policies set in a medical facility to help patients. A quality improvement specialist must know how to use office-related computer programs, preferably have a degree in the health or medical field, and have good organizational skills.

What does an operations associate do?

An operations associate is responsible for performing administrative and clerical tasks to support the organization's daily operations. An operations associate must have excellent organizational skills to perform various duties for different business functions under the supervision of an operations manager. Operations associates respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, prepare meeting reports, schedule appointments, assisting on payroll release, update employees' information on the database, process contract agreements, and help the senior management to identify business opportunities that would generate revenues.

Quality improvement specialist vs operations associate salary

Quality improvement specialists and operations associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Quality Improvement Specialist	Operations Associate
Average salary	$67,474	$52,703
Salary range	Between $47,000 And $96,000	Between $28,000 And $95,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	New York
Best paying company	TechnipFMC	Biogen
Best paying industry	Automotive	-

Differences between quality improvement specialist and operations associate education

There are a few differences between a quality improvement specialist and an operations associate in terms of educational background:

	Quality Improvement Specialist	Operations Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common major	Nursing	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	Western Carolina University

Quality improvement specialist vs operations associate demographics

Here are the differences between quality improvement specialists' and operations associates' demographics:

	Quality Improvement Specialist	Operations Associate
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 24.8% Female, 75.2%	Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between quality improvement specialist and operations associate duties and responsibilities

Quality improvement specialist example responsibilities.

Manage action planning as it relates to the RCA process.
Design, run, and manage the HEDIS data review process/claim encounters to ensure accuracy and integrity of data.
Lead company-wide preparation for NCQA accreditation.
Assist organization in achieving strategic quality/resource consumption goals and JCAHO accreditation.
Design and manage an internal SharePoint site utilize compliance with RESPA guidelines
Manage investigations using applicable methodology focuse on root cause analysis and CAPA identification / implementation.

Operations associate example responsibilities.

Demonstrate ability to manage and organize clinical setting for patients and families.
Meet minimum standards for compliance with AML laws and regulations.
Organize and complete online LTL shipment orders for customers and vendors.
Create new access, removing access, and act as SME for offshore staff.
Perform preventative maintenance, as needed, to assist in the achievement of SLA contractual requirements.
Communicate with LTL, TL carriers regarding billing/invoice, class, re weigh and other discrepancies.

Quality improvement specialist vs operations associate skills

Common quality improvement specialist skills

Performance Improvement, 8%
Quality Improvement, 7%
Data Collection, 7%
Patients, 5%
Patient Safety, 5%
Process Improvement, 4%

Common operations associate skills

Customer Service, 28%
Sales Floor, 16%
Basic Math, 14%
Portfolio, 13%
Work Ethic, 7%
Math, 6%

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Quality Improvement Specialist
Quality Improvement Specialist vs Operations Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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