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Quality manager vs quality technician

The differences between quality managers and quality technicians 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 quality technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a quality manager has an average salary of $91,357, which is higher than the $37,007 average annual salary of a quality technician.

The top three skills for a quality manager include continuous improvement, corrective action and quality standards. The most important skills for a quality technician are calipers, quality standards, and corrective action.

Quality manager vs quality technician overview

Quality ManagerQuality Technician
Yearly salary$91,357$37,007
Hourly rate$43.92$17.79
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs63,42280,291
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4845
Years of experience64

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 technician do?

Quality systems analysts are professionals who analyze the implemented quality standards of an organization's business procedures and policies. These analysts are required to execute test plans and resolve discrepancies with their technical personnel. They must coordinate all internal audits of the quality system while implementing corrective action to their audit findings. They are required to conduct weekly meetings with development staff to discuss defects and revised business requirements. Quality systems analysts must also identify the quality training needs for operations personnel working with supervisors and quality engineers.

Quality manager vs quality technician salary

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

Quality ManagerQuality Technician
Average salary$91,357$37,007
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $128,000Between $27,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CALos Angeles, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaAmphenol
Best paying industryTechnologyHealth Care

Differences between quality manager and quality technician education

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

Quality ManagerQuality Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityPurdue University

Quality manager vs quality technician demographics

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

Quality ManagerQuality Technician
Average age4845
Gender ratioMale, 72.1% Female, 27.9%Male, 60.4% Female, 39.6%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between quality manager and quality technician 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).
  • Show more

Quality technician example responsibilities.

  • Lead Kaizen events and utilize DMAIC, A3, VSM, COPQ, SIPOC, and FMEA to drive results.
  • Train test personnel and manage QC test technicians in a fast pace environment.
  • Interview, hire, and manage HEDIS temporary staff during annual HEDIS projects.
  • Manage and improve CAPA and MRB process by reducing quantity and value of material.
  • Manage RMA return process including issuance and closure of work orders and dispositions promptly.
  • Lead quality initiatives for two production lines via lean six sigma tools; root cause analysis , 8-D, and Kaizen.
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Quality manager vs quality technician 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 technician skills
  • Calipers, 6%
  • Quality Standards, 5%
  • Corrective Action, 4%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%
  • ISO, 4%
  • Micrometers, 4%

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