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The differences between business program managers and business unit managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a business program manager and a business unit manager. Additionally, a business program manager has an average salary of $122,869, which is higher than the $122,782 average annual salary of a business unit manager.
The top three skills for a business program manager include project management, program management and portfolio. The most important skills for a business unit manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and product line.
| Business Program Manager | Business Unit Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $122,869 | $122,782 |
| Hourly rate | $59.07 | $59.03 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 384,234 | 295,151 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Business Program Managers oversee specific company programs. They plan for the programs, manage the programs' budget allocation, implement activities, and evaluate the performance. They also lead the employees assigned to handle these programs. They are expected to properly onboard and train these employees to acclimate them with what the programs need. A Business Program Manager should understand the company's main business and the industry it moves in. This understanding helps them create sound strategies that will push their company's performance. This would also help them manage their business programs better.
A business unit manager handles a unit or segment of the company. This unit may be a specialized team on specific projects or a part of a significant production process. The business unit manager ensures that the unit works efficiently and productively by implementing strategies and techniques that will enhance the productive output. A business unit manager also provides suggestions, offers solutions to problems, handles tasks delegation, planning production processes, and training and monitoring of employees in a unit.
Business program managers and business unit managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Program Manager | Business Unit Manager | |
| Average salary | $122,869 | $122,782 |
| Salary range | Between $92,000 And $163,000 | Between $81,000 And $184,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | East Providence, RI |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Meta | Citi |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a business program manager and a business unit manager in terms of educational background:
| Business Program Manager | Business Unit Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between business program managers' and business unit managers' demographics:
| Business Program Manager | Business Unit Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% | Male, 82.8% Female, 17.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |