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The differences between quality systems engineers and quality leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a quality systems engineer, becoming a quality lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a quality lead has an average salary of $90,301, which is higher than the $88,543 average annual salary of a quality systems engineer.
The top three skills for a quality systems engineer include continuous improvement, medical devices and CAPA. The most important skills for a quality lead are continuous improvement, product quality, and quality standards.
| Quality Systems Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $88,543 | $90,301 |
| Hourly rate | $42.57 | $43.41 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 149,279 | 62,018 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
In manufacturing facilities, a quality systems engineer is in charge of conducting regular quality inspections to ensure that products and procedures adhere to company standards and government regulations. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing data, performing extensive research, developing and implementing quality assurance tests, reviewing documentation and specifications, identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, and creating solutions against problem areas. Moreover, a quality systems engineer typically leads teams to reach goals while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.
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.
Quality systems engineers and quality leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Systems Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Average salary | $88,543 | $90,301 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $114,000 | Between $63,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | Petaluma, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a quality systems engineer and a quality lead in terms of educational background:
| Quality Systems Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between quality systems engineers' and quality leads' demographics:
| Quality Systems Engineer | Quality Lead | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.4% Female, 29.6% | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 13.1% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |