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Six Sigma Black Belt is a very well-reputed certification. Candidates who want to make themselves an attractive hire in their respective companies should opt for this certification. In the following sections, we will discuss its benefits and salary associated with it.
The salary for a Six Sigma Black Belt ranges from $80,000 to $140,000 per year. In addition to the base salary, bonuses and incentives can bring this number much higher. Here’s a look at average salaries by metro area
Salary For Six Sigma Black Belt Overview
Six Sigma Black Belts are the master craftsmen of Six Sigma. They are the leaders of the project teams, and they make sure that their projects stay on track, deliver results, and meet deadlines. They often work with all levels of management to ensure that the company’s goals are being met.
Entry Level Six Sigma Black Belt Salary – $76,500 per year
According to PayScale, the average starting salary for a Six Sigma Black Belt is $76,500 per year. However, it’s important to note that these numbers will vary based on location and experience level.
Six Sigma Black Belt Consultant Salary – $106,000 per year
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a Six Sigma Black Belt in the consulting industry is $106,000 per year. This number is similar for those working in other industries such as IT or finance.
Six Sigma Black Belt Project Manager Salary – $115,000 per year
The average salary for a Six Sigma Black Belt working as an IT project manager is $115,000 per year according to careerkeg data. It’s worth noting that this number can vary quite significantly depending on where you live or how much experience you have under your belt!
What Is A Six Sigma Black Belt
A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt candidate has been able to consistently show quality team leadership skills and grows through the Lean Six Sigma certification process. The Black Belt level of Lean Six Sigma has an in-depth understanding of defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling (DMAIC) model outlined in the Six Sigma principles.
A Black Belt is considered qualified for a number of management and team leader positions. Do you look for ways to improve processes and trim unnecessary, time-consuming steps? The main goal of Lean Six Sigma Black Belts is to increase customer value while decreasing product waste.
In order to complete the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, you must complete at least one Six Sigma project and earn an approved project affidavit. This means you don’t have to move up through the Yellow Belt and Green Belt certifications to pass; you just have to pass the course material.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a Lean SIX Sigma Black Belt. For example, did you know that they make an average of $38.93 an hour? That’s $80,970 a year!
What is a Six Sigma Black Belt certification?
A Six Sigma Black Belt certification is the second-highest level of the data-driven technical training program that focuses on statistical information and quality improvement metrics. It takes about one to three months on average to earn the designation. Industries like project management, finance and service fields often use the training program, which has these levels:
- Yellow Belt
- Green Belt
- Black Belt
- Master Black Belt
At many companies, the senior leadership team often has Six Sigma Black Belt professionals, helping to drive positive improvements and change across a department or organization through using their expertise and unique skills learned in the Six Sigma Black Belt program. They often mentor fellow Six Sigma participants, often those at the Green Belt level. Completing the Six Sigma Black Belt certification program may increase your salary or provide you with advancement opportunities at your workplace or within your field.
Three common Six Sigma certification organizations include:
- International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC)
- Lean Six Sigma Academy (LSSA)
- American Society for Quality (ASQ)
What are the requirements for a Six Sigma Black Belt certification?
There are a few requirements to become a Six Sigma Black Belt certificate holder. You must first hold a Green Belt certification or have at least three years of full-time paid work experience in your field. You can also substitute having completed two Six Sigma projects. With these requirements, you can move on to the Six Sigma training, projects and exam. Training varies and can be in person, online or via workshops, and they often cover:
- Benchmarking
- Business performance measures
- Customer feedback
- Critical to cost, process, safety, quality and delivery requirements
- Enterprise leadership duties and team management
- Enterprise-wide deployment
- Financial measurements
- Six Sigma integration
To earn your Six Sigma Black Belt, you must complete these two elements:
A Six Sigma Black Belt project
You need to complete a Six Sigma Black Belt project, which must gain approval from a company’s accounting department. Your project should focus on process changes and change management procedures that produce statistically significant improvements, like lowering the talent acquisition team’s recruitment cycle time, saving costs on accounts payable invoice processing or reducing the amount of time an airplane spends on the ground between flights.
the average Six Sigma Black Belt salaries?
The average salaries of professionals with a Six Sigma Black Belt can vary based on title, company and location, though many earn over $100,000. These senior roles also often receive generous bonuses and profit-sharing amounts, which increase their overall income even more.
Here are 10 common senior professional positions often certified by Six Sigma Black Belt programs and their potential earnings:
Quality manager
A quality manager can often earn an average of $84,528 per year or more with a Six Sigma Black Belt certification. In this role, you monitor and evaluate internal or manufacturing processes and procedures to gain statistical insights and reporting data.
Process engineer
Process engineers work to establish and design procedures and processes that have the best use of materials, machines, employees, energy and information and earn an average of $87,283 per year. While they often work in manufacturing fields, process engineers also can find employment in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and oil, petroleum and energy fields.
Director of operations
A director of operations position often commands an average salary of $91,069 per year. As a director of operations, you oversee teams and work with senior management to meet company goals and drive operational efficiency. This role often includes budgets, purchases, negotiations and long-term plans.
Related: Learn About Being a Director of Operations
Project manager lead
A Six Sigma Black Belt often benefits a professional with a project manager lead, typically earning an average salary of $101,964 per year. A project manager lead often leads people through a project and is responsible for sharing the vision and ensuring the successful outcome of a project, whereas a project manager oversees deadlines and project progression.
Head of finance
You can earn an average of $102,671 per year as a head of finance. As a head of finance, you are in charge of the financial activities of a company or organization, managing budgets, reviewing risk management, forecasting revenue and expense results and seeking cost savings or process improvements that help profits.
Quality assurance director
The average salary for quality assurance directors is $118,594 per year. As a quality assurance director, you oversee a team to make quality a priority within a company or organization. You work with other department leaders and plan, develop and direct quality assurance initiatives that meet the standards of your business along with any government regulations.
Continuous improvement manager
The average salary for continuous improvement managers is $119,166 per year. Continuous improvement managers aim to improve a company’s process by creating, measuring and testing efficiency plans. You evaluate, analyze and measure throughout all stages of a project, which makes earning a Six Sigma Black Belt beneficial.
Vice president of human resources
Vice presidents of human resources earn an average of $135,346 per year. As a vice president of human resources, you handle more than the recruitment and hiring of employees. You develop and oversee legally compliant practices and policies for your employees, including compensation plans, retention initiatives, leaves of absence, time off programs, and equal opportunity guidelines.
Vice president of operations
A vice president of operations earns an average of $136,653 per year and is responsible for the overall planning, coordinating, directing, and supervising of a company’s operations. They often seek cost-effective and continuous improvement processes that meet the current needs of a company while keeping future needs in mind.
Chief technology officer
As the highest technology executive position, chief technology officers make an average of $145,783 per year. They handle policies, procedures and oversight of engineering and technology departments and teams, often using data to enhance the company’s product or manufacturing process.
