Assistant department head vs department manager

The differences between assistant department heads and department managers 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 manager. Additionally, a department manager has an average salary of $67,160, which is higher than the $65,309 average annual salary of an assistant department head.

The top three skills for an assistant department head include ladders, sales floor and customer service. The most important skills for a department manager are inventory management, sales promotions, and cleanliness.

Assistant department head vs department manager overview

	Assistant Department Head	Department Manager
Yearly salary	$65,309	$67,160
Hourly rate	$31.40	$32.29
Growth rate	-	5%
Number of jobs	41,690	330,327
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
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 manager do?

Department managers oversee the operations of the department they are assigned to. They manage all aspects of the operation, including finance, sales, quality control, and human resources. They set department goals and the steps the team needs to take to ensure that the goals are met. Department managers are also in charge of training team members so that these team members will be able to work together harmoniously. They should also be able to keep the team's goal in sight and adjust their strategy as needed.

Assistant department head vs department manager salary

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

	Assistant Department Head	Department Manager
Average salary	$65,309	$67,160
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $106,000	Between $39,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City	Centereach, NY	New York, NY
Highest paying state	New York	New Jersey
Best paying company	Princeton University	Ralph Lauren
Best paying industry	Energy	Manufacturing

Differences between assistant department head and department manager education

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

	Assistant Department Head	Department Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
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 manager demographics

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

	Assistant Department Head	Department Manager
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%	Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%
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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between assistant department head and department manager 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 manager example responsibilities.

Participate in company's ISO certification program, successfully achieving ISO [] and AS9100 certification.
Manage and delegate over lumber-building materials department including millwork department.
Manage electronics, wireless connection center, layaway and online order/pickup departments.
Develop schedules; manage payroll; multitask extensively to ensure competing requirements are complete.
Monitor and maximize sales and payroll by identifying sales opportunities and managing controllable expenses.
Manage geotechnical aspects of an EIR/EIS for a coastal development in an environmentally sensitive lagoon.

Assistant department head vs department manager 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 manager skills

Inventory Management, 38%
Sales Promotions, 17%
Cleanliness, 13%
Customer Service, 8%
Sales Floor, 3%
Product Knowledge, 2%

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Assistant Department Head
Assistant Department Head vs Department Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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