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The differences between quality leads and quality assurance specialists 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 lead, becoming a quality assurance specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a quality lead has an average salary of $90,301, which is higher than the $63,443 average annual salary of a quality assurance specialist.
The top three skills for a quality lead include continuous improvement, product quality and quality standards. The most important skills for a quality assurance specialist are GMP, patients, and FDA.
| Quality Lead | Quality Assurance Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,301 | $63,443 |
| Hourly rate | $43.41 | $30.50 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 62,018 | 83,505 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
A quality assurance specialist is an individual who is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and proposing measures to correct and improve a company's product. Quality assurance specialists need to outline quality assurance policies and procedures, making sure that quality standards are assured. It is important that a quality assurance specialist should have strong attention to detail and is excellent in data collection. This work may require a minimum of bachelor's degree and certification to get certified.
Quality leads and quality assurance specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Lead | Quality Assurance Specialist | |
| Average salary | $90,301 | $63,443 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $127,000 | Between $41,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a quality lead and a quality assurance specialist in terms of educational background:
| Quality Lead | Quality Assurance Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between quality leads' and quality assurance specialists' demographics:
| Quality Lead | Quality Assurance Specialist | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% | Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |