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The differences between supplier quality managers and laboratory 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 supplier quality manager and a laboratory manager. Additionally, a supplier quality manager has an average salary of $102,346, which is higher than the $74,314 average annual salary of a laboratory manager.
The top three skills for a supplier quality manager include continuous improvement, supply chain and sigma. The most important skills for a laboratory manager are lab equipment, patients, and customer service.
| Supplier Quality Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,346 | $74,314 |
| Hourly rate | $49.20 | $35.73 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 63,918 | 43,321 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Supplier quality managers are professionals who are responsible for managing the day-to-day activities and operations of the supplier quality department. These managers are required to monitor the performance of suppliers while identifying potential issues to improve quality and efficiency. They must implement product and process improvement strategies so that they can increase customer satisfaction, employee morale, and organization value. Supplier quality managers must also develop and maintain a supplier quality system by certifying their suppliers to ensure continuous product flow.
Laboratory managers provide accurate laboratory diagnosis through evaluating specimen procedures and coordinating with pathologists to validate laboratory findings. They are responsible for maintaining laboratory tools and equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of instruments before and after use, organizing equipment based on its function, and immediately repairing or replacing defective items. A laboratory manager also secures the confidentiality of laboratory systems, keeping records of results, and releasing information to the appropriate personnel. Laboratory managers must have a broad knowledge of the scientific industry, as well as excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Supplier quality managers and laboratory managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supplier Quality Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,346 | $74,314 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $135,000 | Between $49,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a supplier quality manager and a laboratory manager in terms of educational background:
| Supplier Quality Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between supplier quality managers' and laboratory managers' demographics:
| Supplier Quality Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.0% Female, 18.0% | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 9.3% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |