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Business manager vs project manager

The differences between business managers and project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project manager has an average salary of $91,578, which is higher than the $83,198 average annual salary of a business manager.

The top three skills for a business manager include customer service, powerpoint and project management. The most important skills for a project manager are project management, project scope, and customer service.

Business manager vs project manager overview

Business ManagerProject Manager
Yearly salary$83,198$91,578
Hourly rate$40.00$44.03
Growth rate6%8%
Number of jobs377,191167,116
Job satisfaction54.17
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4447
Years of experience6-

What does a business manager do?

A business manager is responsible for directing the overall operations of the company, ensuring that all employees do their tasks efficiently and accurately. Business managers' duties include developing strategic solutions, evaluating employees' performance, identifying business opportunities to grow, monitoring the company's expenses to meet its budget goals, implementing techniques to boost the company's revenue and profitability, and adhering to the company's legal policies and procedures. A business manager must have excellent leadership and interpersonal skills to supervise daily operations.

What does a project manager do?

Project managers oversee a specific project related to the organization's business. They manage the whole project from inception to evaluation. They initiate planning with involved departments, follow-through on the plans, ensure smooth execution of the plans, and evaluate the project for further improvements should these be needed. In line with this, project managers also ensure that the project is cost-efficient and well within the budget. They also manage the different work teams involved in the project and ensure that things are running smoothly on this aspect as well.

Business manager vs project manager salary

Business managers and project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Business ManagerProject Manager
Average salary$83,198$91,578
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $145,000Between $64,000 And $129,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyThe CitadelThe Citadel
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between business manager and project manager education

There are a few differences between a business manager and a project manager in terms of educational background:

Business ManagerProject Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Business manager vs project manager demographics

Here are the differences between business managers' and project managers' demographics:

Business ManagerProject Manager
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 43.2% Female, 56.8%Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between business manager and project manager duties and responsibilities

Business manager example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate and manage hvac projects from estimate to invoice.
  • Manage accounting, treasury, and process improvement initiatives to effect financial turnaround of CMRO business unit.
  • Manage and supervise firm operations on a daily basis including purchases, accounting, scheduling of vendors, attorney and CPA.
  • Create solutions in the areas of invoicing, AR reporting and payment methods that lead to system improvements and streamline processes.
  • Manage all human resource activities, operational processes and financial oversight.
  • Develop internal operating procedures design to achieve efficient clinic operations and maximum service to patients.
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Project manager example responsibilities.

  • Schedule and manage the GCP audit process.
  • Define, develop and manage metrics and KPIs systems for new product business group.
  • Manage the application process for the FDA medical device, minority and small business certifications.
  • Manage multiple projects and resources simultaneously while mentoring, coaching and implementing best practices, SOX and HIPAA compliance standards.
  • Lead teams using the Informatica ETL tool for the design and development of multiple financial and risk enterprise data warehouses.
  • Administer and manage Salesforce requirements.
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Business manager vs project manager skills

Common business manager skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • PowerPoint, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Human Resources, 6%
  • Payroll Taxes, 5%
  • Business Plan, 4%
Common project manager skills
  • Project Management, 23%
  • Project Scope, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Infrastructure, 5%
  • Status Reports, 4%
  • Risk Management, 3%

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