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Quality management specialist vs quality manager

The differences between quality management specialists 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 management specialist and a quality manager. Additionally, a quality manager has an average salary of $91,357, which is higher than the $70,819 average annual salary of a quality management specialist.

The top three skills for a quality management specialist include healthcare, quality improvement and patients. The most important skills for a quality manager are continuous improvement, corrective action, and quality standards.

Quality management specialist vs quality manager overview

Quality Management SpecialistQuality Manager
Yearly salary$70,819$91,357
Hourly rate$34.05$43.92
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs128,49463,422
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

What does a quality management specialist do?

In the manufacturing industry, a quality management specialist is in charge of implementing and overseeing quality management procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically include gathering and analyzing data to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current operations, developing new strategies to optimize procedures, creating new quality assurance methods, maintaining records of transactions, and coordinating the workforce. Furthermore, as a quality management specialist, it is essential to implement solutions while enforcing the company's policies 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 management specialist vs quality manager salary

Quality management specialists and quality managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Quality Management SpecialistQuality Manager
Average salary$70,819$91,357
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $103,000Between $64,000 And $128,000
Highest paying CityPalo Alto, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companySAPMeta
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between quality management specialist and quality manager education

There are a few differences between a quality management specialist and a quality manager in terms of educational background:

Quality Management SpecialistQuality Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorNursingBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Quality management specialist vs quality manager demographics

Here are the differences between quality management specialists' and quality managers' demographics:

Quality Management SpecialistQuality Manager
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 36.9% Female, 63.1%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, 69.2% 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 management specialist and quality manager duties and responsibilities

Quality management specialist example responsibilities.

  • Lead business system development in new aerospace start-up facility with industry-unique process concept.
  • Perform medical record review according to NCQA, CMS, & DMHC standards.
  • Ensure process and procedures are in place and they comply with ISO and reflect actual task.
  • Attend community member focuse groups and community outreach events in order to promote HEDIS prevention and wellness initiatives.
  • Provide management team with a monthly report that summarizes quality measures such as P4P, HCC and CMS stars.
  • Provide direct supervision of unit staff, scheduling, and oversight of the unit to optimize patient-flow and client satisfaction.
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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).
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Quality management specialist vs quality manager skills

Common quality management specialist skills
  • Healthcare, 11%
  • Quality Improvement, 6%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Performance Improvement, 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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