Assistant department head vs department lead

The differences between assistant department heads and department leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an assistant department head and a department lead. Additionally, an assistant department head has an average salary of $65,309, which is higher than the $42,113 average annual salary of a department lead.

The top three skills for an assistant department head include ladders, sales floor and customer service. The most important skills for a department lead are cleanliness, safety procedures, and customer service.

Assistant department head vs department lead overview

	Assistant Department Head	Department Lead
Yearly salary	$65,309	$42,113
Hourly rate	$31.40	$20.25
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	41,690	204,534
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	6	6

What does an assistant department head do?

An assistant department head is responsible for monitoring the operations of the department, together with the department head. Assistant department heads' duties include managing clients' inquiries and complaints, developing strategic solutions to improve clients' satisfaction, and identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and the business' profitability. They will also work on monitoring the staff's performance and addressing their concerns, creating sales reports, maintaining budget goals, and organizing training. An assistant department head must have excellent leadership and communication skills to help in achieving the department's objectives.

What does a department lead do?

A department lead's responsibilities will vary in an organization or company. It will, most of the time, revolve around overseeing the progress of work in a particular area and evaluating department staff's performance. Other responsibilities include setting goals and implementing the company's policies and guidelines. They may also carry out administrative tasks such as approving and signing paperwork, producing reports and presentations, and crafting guidelines and strategies to help reach goals. Furthermore, as a department head, it is important to encourage staff and shape them into valuable company members.

Assistant department head vs department lead salary

Assistant department heads and department leads have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Assistant Department Head	Department Lead
Average salary	$65,309	$42,113
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $106,000	Between $22,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City	Centereach, NY	New Haven, CT
Highest paying state	New York	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Princeton University	Tufts Medical Center
Best paying industry	Energy	Manufacturing

Differences between assistant department head and department lead education

There are a few differences between an assistant department head and a department lead in terms of educational background:

	Assistant Department Head	Department Lead
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Assistant department head vs department lead demographics

Here are the differences between assistant department heads' and department leads' demographics:

	Assistant Department Head	Department Lead
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%	Male, 54.7% Female, 45.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between assistant department head and department lead duties and responsibilities

Assistant department head example responsibilities.

Generate and implement new rules and regulations for the disciplinary department which lead to streamlining the process for separating challenge sailors.
Manage a high volume of patient information from authorizing diagnostic procedures and scheduling patients.
Perform all duties require while working in a retail environment such as POS cash handling, customer service and sales.
Stoop, climb ladders, and lift heavy loads during set-up for events.
Administer Microsoft PowerPoint training lectures and meeting/ briefings require by OSHA and NAVOSH.
Collaborate with patients, Tricare, and providers DOD and civilian coordinating specialty care referrals.

Department lead example responsibilities.

Implement inventory management system to effectively manage on-hands, assist with correct replenishment and maintain an acceptable level of over-stock.
Operate POS system, and receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debit.
Oversee the completion of all POS transactions, maintain cash office records and assistant in training of all new cashiers.
Conduct geotechnical and geological investigations and mineral resource evaluations for commercial, industrial and governmental clients using the above-mentioned drilling techniques.
Develop unique SQL, cloudbase, and ADHOC telephony query techniques resulting in the identification of previously undiscovered nefarious networks.

Assistant department head vs department lead skills

Common assistant department head skills

Ladders, 29%
Sales Floor, 28%
Customer Service, 11%
Curriculum Development, 3%
Professional Development, 3%
Loss Prevention, 3%

Common department lead skills

Cleanliness, 12%
Safety Procedures, 11%
Customer Service, 10%
Store Management, 8%
Inventory Management, 7%
Sales Floor, 6%

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Assistant Department Head
Assistant Department Head vs Department Lead

Updated January 8, 2025

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