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Test manager vs quality assurance specialist

The differences between test managers and quality assurance specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a test manager and a quality assurance specialist. Additionally, a test manager has an average salary of $92,297, which is higher than the $63,443 average annual salary of a quality assurance specialist.

The top three skills for a test manager include QA, project management and java. The most important skills for a quality assurance specialist are GMP, patients, and FDA.

Test manager vs quality assurance specialist overview

Test ManagerQuality Assurance Specialist
Yearly salary$92,297$63,443
Hourly rate$44.37$30.50
Growth rate-6%
Number of jobs27,48983,505
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a test manager do?

A test manager is responsible for supervising the content of test activities and ensuring that the scope meets the test requirements. Test managers monitor the test process and determine the accurate strategies to establish efficient methods for the success of test deliveries. They also identify the resources according to quality standards and budget limitations. A test manager oversees the technical controls of the test processes and measures the quality of tools and applications for optimal automation.

What does a quality assurance specialist do?

A quality assurance specialist is an individual who is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and proposing measures to correct and improve a company's product. Quality assurance specialists need to outline quality assurance policies and procedures, making sure that quality standards are assured. It is important that a quality assurance specialist should have strong attention to detail and is excellent in data collection. This work may require a minimum of bachelor's degree and certification to get certified.

Test manager vs quality assurance specialist salary

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

Test ManagerQuality Assurance Specialist
Average salary$92,297$63,443
Salary rangeBetween $71,000 And $119,000Between $41,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaRhode Island
Best paying companyMetaApple
Best paying industryAutomotivePharmaceutical

Differences between test manager and quality assurance specialist education

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

Test ManagerQuality Assurance Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Test manager vs quality assurance specialist demographics

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

Test ManagerQuality Assurance Specialist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 71.7% Female, 28.3%Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between test manager and quality assurance specialist duties and responsibilities

Test manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead test team in delivery of the NAS windows product within the project schedule.
  • Manage and implement a successful peer-base HIV counseling & testing program for gay/bisexual men.
  • Lead weekly integration testing status meetings with testing team, PMO, CIO, and CFO.
  • Manage execution of manual and automate test cases for functional, performance, load, integration, UAT and infrastructure testing.
  • Create XML billing input files for the expected products in UNIX environment.
  • Verify the requirements in JIRA and assign test cases to the team base on the release.
    • Show more

Quality assurance specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage all NDT relate gauges to ensure calibrations requirements are meet.
  • Provide employee training and manage all NDT certification records per ASNT SNT-TC-1A.
  • Lead the HACCP team to ensure full compliance with regulatory and industrial food safety standards.
  • Manage product and environmental sampling for chemical and microbial analysis to meet HACCP requirements.
  • Lead cross functional project team to build user-friendly windows base customer support applications which interface with the OmniPlan/OmniPlus mainframe application.
  • Execute quality processes in tissue banking and medical device, FDA requirements 21 CFR 1271 and 21 CFR 820.
    • Show more

Test manager vs quality assurance specialist skills

Common test manager skills
  • QA, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Java, 5%
  • Test Plan, 4%
  • UAT, 4%
  • Test Cases, 4%
Common quality assurance specialist skills
  • GMP, 6%
  • Patients, 5%
  • FDA, 5%
  • CAPA, 4%
  • Corrective Action, 4%
  • CFR, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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