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The differences between quality managers and production managers 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 manager, becoming a production manager takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a quality manager has an average salary of $91,357, which is higher than the $78,064 average annual salary of a production manager.
The top three skills for a quality manager include continuous improvement, corrective action and quality standards. The most important skills for a production manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and quality standards.
| Quality Manager | Production Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $91,357 | $78,064 |
| Hourly rate | $43.92 | $37.53 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 63,422 | 95,561 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
Production managers work in show business, whether in film, television shows, or theatre productions. They oversee the whole production and ensure that all agreements are met. They manage finances and budget allocation. They oversee the design of costumes and sets. They also manage the timeline of filming and ensure that the production or filming will finish within the agreed timeline. Production managers also ensure that all stakeholders are satisfied. They build meaningful working relationships with everyone involved, from directors to actors to crew members. They try to mitigate any potential challenges in the production budget and schedule.
Quality managers and production managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Manager | Production Manager | |
| Average salary | $91,357 | $78,064 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $128,000 | Between $50,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Meta | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a quality manager and a production manager in terms of educational background:
| Quality Manager | Production Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between quality managers' and production managers' demographics:
| Quality Manager | Production Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.1% Female, 27.9% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |