Director Vs. Manager: What’s The Difference?

It’s well known that both managers and directors are higher-ups in an organizational structure. But what isn’t always clear is exactly what each term means. Is director just a fancy way to say manager? Or is it actually a different role?

To answer concisely: yes, a director is a different role. While English tends to have several words that mean roughly the same thing, they don’t usually mean exactly the same thing. And when it comes to jargon and industry terminology, the difference tends to be greater.

So, what is the difference? To put it in simple terms, directors are at a higher level than managers. Managers are the ones who do the managing of lower-level employees, making sure that projects get done. Directors, on the other hand, are beholden to the shareholders or the board and manage the managers.

Key Takeaways:

Director	Manager
Directors usually rise through the managerial ranks, so they don’t necessarily have experience with the job at hand as they manage a group of managers.	Managers often have experience in the job being done, but it isn’t a requirement.
Roughly 64% of directors have a bachelor’s degree – and 20% have a master’s or higher.	Almost 60% of managers have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Directors are usually entirely removed from the hands-on aspect. They oversee a much larger project or program, so they’re in charge of several different things at once. This is why they direct the managers rather than the employees.	A manager’s role is typically removed from the project at hand. Managers are required to make sure that the different parts come together properly, so they’re too busy managing to work on the project itself.
Directors make a median salary of $148,000 per year.	Managers average about $73,000 per year.

What Is a Director?

A director is someone in the highest reaches of management. Directors often oversee an entire department, making them the boss of their own fiefdom. Unlike a manager, who will report to a higher level of management, a director reports directly to the highest organizational level in the company.

Directors’ goals and tasks are typically long-term and more vision focused than a manager’s. They create plans and budgets for an entire department and are responsible for said department’s overall performance.

They are also beholden to the shareholders and are required to help manage relations with them. They’re the ones who make sure that the management team is doing what they’re supposed to, that laws and regulations are followed, and with the implementation of new company policies.

What Is a Manager?

Someone in the role of manager, while not directly involved in the day-to-day work on a project, is the one directly responsible for it. Managers end up being in the middle organizationally, as they receive reports from lower-level management – generally called supervisors – and use that data to report to the director.

While directors make sure the department has the resources it needs, managers are the ones to get it to the people that use it. They’re often familiar with the work being done and know the people to talk to make sure things get done properly.

Managers are extremely likely to have at least a bachelor’s degree, with almost half of them holding one. Another seven percent have a master’s. It is possible to become a manager with a GED, but the path will be a lot harder. This, of course, is also dependent on the field you work in – there are some that aren’t possible to get into without a degree.

Tips for Becoming a Director

If you want to become a director, here are some things to consider:

Director is the highest level of management. It’s not a role that can be gotten to quickly, and experience is going to be vital.
It’s almost impossible to become a director without a four-year degree or higher. According to Zippia’s statistics, almost 84% of directors hold a bachelor’s or higher. About 10% hold an associate’s, so that would be considered the bare minimum.
As with most managerial roles, communication, decision making, and being able to break down a larger idea into disparate parts is necessary. Directors do it on a larger scale than managers, but you still need to be able to pull actually doable projects from a company direction.

Tips for Becoming a Manager

If you’re interested in going into management, here are some things to consider.

While Zippia’s statistics show that about 60% of managers have a bachelor’s degree, it’s likely higher than that, as some roles that are really supervisors are labeled as managers – such as in retail. If you want to be a manager, a degree in something like business management is an excellent choice.
Managers deal in resources and time management and are required to think on their feet. If part of a project isn’t coming together on the right timeline, you have to be able to make adjustments to it.
Most of a manager’s job is going to be planning and communications. If run properly, managers should spend all of their time managing, as it’s impossible to be effective both managing and working on the project.

Director vs. Manager FAQ

Is the role of a director higher than a manager?

Yes, the role of a director is higher than that of a manager. Directors report directly to the CEO, board, or shareholders, depending on the organization. In short, they’re the ones who manage the managers.
Are managers and directors the same thing?

No, the role of a manager and the role of a director isn’t the same. A manager typically works directly on managing a project or series of projects, while a director gives more of a general direction for the managers to pursue. Managers report to directors, and directors report to the top.
What’s the salary difference between a director and a manager?

Zippia calculates the average salary for a manager at about $73,000 per year, while the salary of a director average at about $148,000, leaving a gap of about $75,000 annually.

Of course, this is in many ways just an estimate, as your salary will be hugely dependent on what you’re managing or directing, your level of experience, and the field you’re working in. But, as you can see, directors make almost twice as much money as managers on average.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Di Doherty

Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.

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