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The differences between associate managers and dept 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 associate manager and a dept manager. Additionally, an associate manager has an average salary of $83,246, which is higher than the $50,222 average annual salary of a dept manager.
The top three skills for an associate manager include PET, POS and sales floor. The most important skills for a dept manager are customer service, sales floor, and pallet jack.
| Associate Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $83,246 | $50,222 |
| Hourly rate | $40.02 | $24.15 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 420,292 | 221,313 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Associate managers are responsible for overseeing the support and clerical staff of the company. They recruit and train employees who perform different tasks that include greeting customers, answering phones, and faxing documents. They also perform other duties, including keeping employees' motivation, ensuring that everyone understands the company's guidelines and policies, and supervising other staff members. To be qualified as an associate manager, one should have a high school diploma, leadership skills, and a strong work ethic. One should also have the necessary computer skills, bookkeeping skills, and customer service skills.
A department manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the assigned department, ensuring the maximum productivity and optimal performance of the staff. Department managers also coordinate with business partners, clients, and customers, as well as identifying business opportunities to drive more revenues and increase profitability. They handle department budgets and maintain the proper allocation of resources to support project management and deliverables. A department manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, managing the staff's needs, and providing excellent support.
Associate managers and dept managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Average salary | $83,246 | $50,222 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $124,000 | Between $28,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Bay Shore, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | PayPal | UPMC |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between an associate manager and a dept manager in terms of educational background:
| Associate Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi |
Here are the differences between associate managers' and dept managers' demographics:
| Associate Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% | Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 9% |