In this article, we detail how lucrative a Six Sigma Black Belt salary can be for certified professionals.
Businesses that want to remain successful and competitive should constantly look for ways to improve their processes. Many organizations turn to Six Sigma to help achieve this goal. Six Sigma is a disciplined and defined set of management techniques designed to increase customer satisfaction and profitability by improving quality, streamlining operations, and eliminating defects in every process throughout the company.
Consequently, certified Six Sigma Black Belt professionals are in heavy demand in many organizations worldwide. The best way to gauge this demand’s seriousness is by determining what kinds of salaries these businesses offer.
To that end, this article gives you everything you need to know about the typical lean Six Sigma Black Belt salary, including factors such as experience and job roles. We will also briefly explore other aspects of Six Sigma salary figures, such as a Six Sigma green belt salary, Six Sigma yellow belt salary, and Six Sigma white belt salary.
But before we launch into a discussion on Sigma Black Belt salaries, let’s define the term. And if you’re interested in gaining even more information about Six Sigma, check this out.
What is a Six Sigma Black Belt, Anyway? And What Do They Do?
Six Sigma Black Belt professionals are primarily involved in analyzing, structuring, and measuring performance issues. Their roles are markedly different from the other lean belts. Black Belt professionals are expected to take charge of continuous improvement projects. They also must have extensive training in using LEAN concepts and advanced statistical analysis techniques to improve results. Lean Six Sigma Black Belts better grasp team dynamics and use that knowledge to better assign roles and responsibilities to team members in a project.
In summary, Six Sigma Black Belts function as teachers, mentors, coaches, and project leaders.
Read More: Understanding Six Sigma Belt Levels: A Comprehensive Guide
Six Sigma Black Belt Salaries Based on Experience
As is the case with many occupations, the more experience you have, the greater your starting salary. After all, when a company hires you, they pay for your time, energy, and skill, as well as your field experience. So the more you know, the more generous a starting salary you can ask for.
According to data provided by Payscale.com, here’s how the amount of experience influences a Six Sigma Black Belt’s average annual salary. Bear in mind that this does not consider other elements such as geography, demand, business size, or other economic variables.
Early career Six Sigma Black Belt project managers, typically considered with one to four years of experience, earn an average annual compensation of slightly over $87,000. The next category is the mid-career Six Sigma Black Belt project manager with five to nine years of experience, and they earn around $96,500. Next, six Sigma Black Belt project managers with 10-19 years of experience are considered “experienced” and earn an average of $110,009. Finally, late in their career, a Six Sigma Black Belt project manager with 20 years or more experience can expect to earn an annual average of almost $130,000.
And, for the sake of completion and a nod to the median, Payscale also notes that the average Six Sigma Black Belt project manager earns an average salary of $100,590 a year.
Additionally, according to the Annual SixSigma Global Salary Survey, here is how global salaries for Six Sigma Black Belts compare to Six Sigma Master Black Belts. The difference can be pretty significant.
| Nation | Six Sigma Black Belt Salary in U.S. Dollars | Master Black Belt Salary in U.S. Dollars |
| Asia and Pacific Nations | 81,324 | 94,773 |
| Canada | 99,550 | 115,000 |
| Europe | 71,643 | 119,615 |
| India | 40,139 | 59,833 |
| Latin America | 62,500 | 96,250 |
| United States | 96,022 | 129,318 |
Six Sigma Salaries Based on Job Roles
Not all Six Sigma Black Belt salaries are alike. In addition, different job roles offer other compensation. Here is a partial list of Six Sigma salaries based on the position provided by Payscale.com.
| Job Role | Salary Range | Salary Average |
| Continuous Improvement Manager | $71K – $128K | $99,838 |
| Director of Operations | $77K – $176K | $124,368 |
| Industrial Engineer | $58K – $95K | $72,309 |
| Logistics Manager | $55K – $110K | $78,898 |
| Manufacturing Engineer | $59K – $100K | $76,503 |
| Operations Manager | $59K – $121K | $82,446 |
| Process Engineer | $61K – $104K | $77,826 |
| Production Supervisor | $52K – $85K | $65,899 |
| Program Manager, Aviation/Aerospace | $75K – $150K | $113,401 |
| Project Manager, (General) | $58K – $114K | $81,519 |
| Quality Manager | $64K – $126K | $89,568 |
| Senior Operations Manager | $80K – $147K | $111,949 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $62K – $126K | $90,908 |
| Vice President (VP), Operations | $101K – $229K | $157,447 |
Which Skills Net the Best Compensation?
According to Payscale.com, here are the five most popular skills for Six Sigma Black Belt Project Managers and the annual average salaries:
a) Process Improvement: $98,943
b) Data Analysis: $98,769
c) Strategic Project Management: $135,028
d) Project Management: $99,561
e) Lean Manufacturing: $101,099
Also Read: How Lean Six Sigma Belts Can Increase Your Value and Salary?
What About These Other Six Sigma Belt Salaries?
We’ve already mentioned how there are various Six Sigma belt colors. So how do these colors figure into this salary survey? For that matter, what do these colors even mean? Here’s a quick rundown of the Six Sigma Belt ranks, from lowest to highest certifications:
1) White Belt
The Six Sigma White Belt represents the introductory level of Sigma Six knowledge. These professionals work in local problem-solving teams. They understand the goals and structures of Lean Six Sigma and report process issues to Green and Black belts.
2) Yellow Belt
The Yellow Belts participate as project team members and review process improvements. They understand the fundamental Lean Six Sigma concepts and report process issues to the Green and Black Belts.
3) Green Belt
Six Sigma Green Belts lead Green Belt-level projects and help with data collection and analysis on behalf of the Black Belts. The Greens can start and manage Lean Six Sigma projects. They also provide just-in-time training to others.
4) Black Belt
Six Sigma Black Belts take charge of problem-solving projects. They also train and coach project team members. In addition, they have advanced Lean Six Sigma expertise and report to Master Black Belts.
5) Master Black Belt
Finally, we have the rank of Six Sigma Master Black Belt. This level is the pinnacle of the Six Sigma mastery hierarchy. They function at the Six Sigma program level and train and coach Green Belts and Black Belts. In addition, Master Black Belts develop strategic direction and key metrics.
According to Payscale.com, Six Sigma White Belt salaries average of $66,000 per year. Indeed.com reports a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt salary clocks in at an average of $75,000 per year. Meanwhile, Glassdoor.com indicates that a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt salary averages of $103,495.
And finally, the average Six Sigma Master Black Belt salary in the United States is $164,600 per year, as reported by Salary.com.
The Benefits of Certification
A Six Sigma certification salary is typically more significant than a salary paid to a non-certified applicant. This difference is because certification represents a significant investment in learning, so the starting salaries must account for this. According to this article, certified candidates are well-paid.
Of course, compensation is just one advantage. Certified professionals typically advance faster and further, are better at reducing costly errors and risks, and are a more valuable asset to any business overall.
Do You Want to Learn About Six Sigma?
If this Six Sigma discussion has inspired you to learn more about Six Sigma and perhaps even seek certification, your next step should be signing up for a Lean Six Sigma bootcamp. This Post Graduate Program in Lean Six Sigma, delivered by Simpliearn in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, will put your career on a fast track to success. Attend masterclasses, work with case studies to solve real-world business problems, and tackle hands-on industry projects
This bootcamp covers relevant subjects such as Agile Management, Lean Management, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Minitab, Digital Transformation, and Quality Management. In addition, the bootcamp’s entire offering of Six Sigma courses is aligned with IASSC-Lean Six Sigma and taught by industry practitioners who are experienced and active in their respective fields.
So take your Six Sigma knowledge to a higher level. Check out the Lean Six Sigma course today, and enhance your career prospects!
