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The differences between assistant directors and stage managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an assistant director, becoming a stage manager takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an assistant director has an average salary of $63,063, which is higher than the $50,142 average annual salary of a stage manager.
The top three skills for an assistant director include customer service, CPR and child care. The most important skills for a stage manager are stage management, audio equipment, and control room.
| Assistant Director | Stage Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $63,063 | $50,142 |
| Hourly rate | $30.32 | $24.11 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 25,087 | 699 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
Assistant directors are employees in show business who directly support directors. They may be working on a film, television show, or theatre production. Assistant directors are the second-in-command on the set. They take over for the director when he/she or she is unable to work. Assistant directors should be familiar with the script and the scenes. They are usually heavily involved in the conception of the production. They ensure that the plans are executed well by assisting in the selection of the cast and crew, production sets, and other set providers. They also make sure that shoot days or performance days go without a hitch by ironing out all the details in advance and preparing alternatives.
A stage manager is someone who oversees theatrical performances and all practical and technical aspects of rehearsals and shows, such as lighting cues, sound, prop usage, and costume changes. The core skills that stage managers should possess to accomplish their responsibilities include excellent attention to detail, the ability to multi-task and work under pressure, and strong leadership and problem-solving skills. They should be able to delegate tasks to staff. The job requires no formal education.
Assistant directors and stage managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Director | Stage Manager | |
| Average salary | $63,063 | $50,142 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $105,000 | Between $32,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Mayer Brown | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an assistant director and a stage manager in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Director | Stage Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Theatre |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between assistant directors' and stage managers' demographics:
| Assistant Director | Stage Manager | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.3% Female, 61.7% | Male, 44.3% Female, 55.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 14% |