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The differences between athletic directors and department chairpeople can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an athletic director and a department chairperson. Additionally, a department chairperson has an average salary of $98,438, which is higher than the $71,311 average annual salary of an athletic director.
The top three skills for an athletic director include student athletes, NCAA and physical education. The most important skills for a department chairperson are curriculum development, professional development, and classroom management.
| Athletic Director | Department Chairperson | |
| Yearly salary | $71,311 | $98,438 |
| Hourly rate | $34.28 | $47.33 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 11,759 | 33,511 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An athletics director is an administrative professional who is responsible for managing all activities related to the athletic program of a school, university, or college. The director must ensure that the school follows athletic rules and regulations as well as provide direction and guidance for its athletic program. This director must work with coaches to file reports on the progress of each of the athletic teams. The director must also assist in hiring coaches and athletic staff and should mediate disputes between coaches and athletes.
A Department Chairperson is a faculty member who provides academic and administrative leadership to an academic department. They exercise leadership in recruiting and retaining capable faculty, communicate departmental needs and desires to the Dean and Provost, and coordinate the academic advisement process.
Athletic directors and department chairpeople have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Athletic Director | Department Chairperson | |
| Average salary | $71,311 | $98,438 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $126,000 | Between $50,000 And $191,000 |
| Highest paying City | Alameda, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Kern Community College District | Marshall University |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an athletic director and a department chairperson in terms of educational background:
| Athletic Director | Department Chairperson | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between athletic directors' and department chairpeople' demographics:
| Athletic Director | Department Chairperson | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 4.2% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |