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Center director vs assistant center manager

The differences between center directors and assistant center managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a center director, becoming an assistant center manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a center director has an average salary of $106,505, which is higher than the $36,021 average annual salary of an assistant center manager.

The top three skills for a center director include customer service, oversight and proficiency testing. The most important skills for an assistant center manager are data entry, math, and loss prevention.

Center director vs assistant center manager overview

Center DirectorAssistant Center Manager
Yearly salary$106,505$36,021
Hourly rate$51.20$17.32
Growth rate8%6%
Number of jobs62,348317,049
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4744
Years of experience46

What does a center director do?

A center director is responsible for ensuring and maintaining the efficiency of child care facilities. Their role is to conduct various assessments, ensure that all aspects adhere to federal requirements, develop programs and supplemental activities in collaboration with child care experts, recruit and hire an efficient workforce, and train staff for professional development. Furthermore, a center director is also responsible for managing budgets, handling issues, meeting parents or guardians to discuss the scope of programs or any other concerns, and implementing policies and regulations.

What does an assistant center manager do?

An assistant center manager is in charge of overseeing the practices and operations in a facility, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around performing administrative support tasks such as managing budgets and schedules, producing progress reports, processing documents, answering calls and correspondence, maintaining records of transactions, updating databases, and assessing the performance of the workforce to ensure client satisfaction. Furthermore, it is essential to implement the company's policies and regulations to maintain a safe and productive work environment for everyone.

Center director vs assistant center manager salary

Center directors and assistant center managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Center DirectorAssistant Center Manager
Average salary$106,505$36,021
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $172,000Between $26,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CityNewark, DEMcLean, VA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNew York
Best paying companyMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterMichigan State University
Best paying industry-Transportation

Differences between center director and assistant center manager education

There are a few differences between a center director and an assistant center manager in terms of educational background:

Center DirectorAssistant Center Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Center director vs assistant center manager demographics

Here are the differences between center directors' and assistant center managers' demographics:

Center DirectorAssistant Center Manager
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 29.0% Female, 71.0%Male, 52.0% Female, 48.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.4% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage16%10%

Differences between center director and assistant center manager duties and responsibilities

Center director example responsibilities.

  • Manage programs provide by SDE, DMH, DHS.
  • Design, implement and manage day-to-day operation of the 21st CCLC grant support afterschool program.
  • Manage daily operations of NAEYC accredit childcare center.
  • Manage daily operation for a family-own business with responsibility for sales, production, and administrative functions including payroll.
  • Manage delivery of quality early childhood education programs by establishing an environment of learning and maintaining the integrity of the programs.
  • Lead a staff of 76 FTE's.
  • Show more

Assistant center manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage team of database administrators, database technicians and systems administrators responsible for maintaining all production, development and QA systems.
  • Assist center in following all FDA, CLIA and GHA policies and regulations.
  • Train new, unlicens staff in HIPAA, CLIA and OSHA regulations, as well as proper guidelines.
  • Ensure the center and all employees comply with OSHA regulations and training.
  • Support facility maintenance to the highest safety, compliance, and cleanliness standards.
  • Assist center manager in review and transmission of payroll and daily close out of POS.
  • Show more

Center director vs assistant center manager skills

Common center director skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Oversight, 8%
  • Proficiency Testing, 6%
  • Center Management, 6%
  • State Regulations, 6%
  • Federal Regulations, 6%
Common assistant center manager skills
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • Math, 11%
  • Loss Prevention, 10%
  • Federal Regulations, 8%
  • HR, 7%
  • Cleanliness, 6%

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