Assistant department head vs management trainee

The differences between assistant department heads and management trainees 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 management trainee. Additionally, an assistant department head has an average salary of $65,309, which is higher than the $48,477 average annual salary of a management trainee.

The top three skills for an assistant department head include ladders, sales floor and customer service. The most important skills for a management trainee are enterprise management, management training, and customer service.

Assistant department head vs management trainee overview

	Assistant Department Head	Management Trainee
Yearly salary	$65,309	$48,477
Hourly rate	$31.40	$23.31
Growth rate	-	-8%
Number of jobs	41,690	88,275
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 81%
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 management trainee do?

A management trainee's responsibilities will vary in the assigned industry or department. Most of the time, they function as administrative support where the tasks include processing documents and keeping records, preparing presentations, and analyzing reports. There are also instances when a management trainee must take part in implementing policies, crafting strategies, and observe in handling revenue and budget reports. Furthermore, a management trainee works under the supervision of a manager or supervisor, and it is essential to adhere to all policies and regulations at all times.

Assistant department head vs management trainee salary

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

	Assistant Department Head	Management Trainee
Average salary	$65,309	$48,477
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $106,000	Between $38,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	Centereach, NY	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	New York	New Jersey
Best paying company	Princeton University	BNSF Railway
Best paying industry	Energy	Manufacturing

Differences between assistant department head and management trainee education

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

	Assistant Department Head	Management Trainee
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	University of Pennsylvania

Assistant department head vs management trainee demographics

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

	Assistant Department Head	Management Trainee
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%	Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2%
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, 9.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between assistant department head and management trainee 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.

Management trainee example responsibilities.

Manage internal marketing programs including telemarketing and email campaigns to increase customer activity.
Manage payroll, payments, social security calculations, all administrative functions and vacation rolls coordination.
Develop management and leadership principles while managing, training, and motivating employees in fast-pace, high-volume sales/customer service business.
Develop workforce management, inventory management, leadership, time-management and prioritization skills through working closely with store and department management.
Perform successful sales in roofing and general construction.
Create Instagram and Facebook posts having to do with new clothing shipments.

Assistant department head vs management trainee skills

Common assistant department head skills

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

Common management trainee skills

Enterprise Management, 14%
Management Training, 11%
Customer Service, 9%
Product Knowledge, 8%
Cash Management, 5%
Store Training, 4%

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Assistant Department Head
Assistant Department Head vs Management Trainee

Updated January 8, 2025

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