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Quality manager vs quality specialist

The differences between quality managers and quality specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a quality manager has an average salary of $91,357, which is higher than the $65,230 average annual salary of a quality specialist.

The top three skills for a quality manager include continuous improvement, corrective action and quality standards. The most important skills for a quality specialist are customer service, data analysis, and continuous improvement.

Quality manager vs quality specialist overview

Quality ManagerQuality Specialist
Yearly salary$91,357$65,230
Hourly rate$43.92$31.36
Growth rate3%10%
Number of jobs63,42280,316
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4844
Years of experience6-

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.

What does a quality specialist do?

Quality control senior scientists ensure that testing, materials, and laboratory equipment are up to standard. In the course of their career, they can expect to perform tests for the quality of manufacturing processes in order to ensure compliance with predetermined criteria, as well as ensuring that final products are safe for sale or distribution. This is a career that requires the skills of teamwork, communication, writing, and prioritization. Also, good attention to detail and some technical skills will be needed.

Quality manager vs quality specialist salary

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

Quality ManagerQuality Specialist
Average salary$91,357$65,230
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $128,000Between $43,000 And $98,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryTechnologyGovernment

Differences between quality manager and quality specialist education

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

Quality ManagerQuality Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityWestern Carolina University

Quality manager vs quality specialist demographics

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

Quality ManagerQuality Specialist
Average age4844
Gender ratioMale, 72.1% Female, 27.9%Male, 44.7% Female, 55.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%11%

Differences between quality manager and quality specialist duties and responsibilities

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 specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage CMOs that provide Endo with API, bulk, packaging services, and/or finish goods, including clinical material.
  • Manage PPAP sample dimensional verification activities.
  • Recommend changes to organizational committee structure to achieve higher level of accountability and oversight.
  • Manage document control including initiating and revising procedures, QA approval and implementation of documents.
  • Manage performance improvement and quality improvement projects design to assess and improve health outcomes for Medicaid members.
  • Manage hospital core measures abstraction, registry abstractions and review services to assist healthcare organizations in improving performance.
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Quality manager vs quality specialist skills

Common quality manager skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 8%
  • Corrective Action, 6%
  • Quality Standards, 5%
  • Product Quality, 5%
  • Sigma, 4%
  • Quality Management System, 4%
Common quality specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Continuous Improvement, 6%
  • Process Improvement, 5%
  • Management System, 5%
  • FDA, 5%

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