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Center director vs center manager

The differences between center directors and 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 a center manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a center director has an average salary of $106,505, which is higher than the $56,284 average annual salary of a center manager.

The top three skills for a center director include customer service, oversight and proficiency testing. The most important skills for a center manager are patients, OSHA, and patient care.

Center director vs center manager overview

Center DirectorCenter Manager
Yearly salary$106,505$56,284
Hourly rate$51.20$27.06
Growth rate8%6%
Number of jobs62,348278,683
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 a center manager do?

A call center manager is an individual who is responsible for managing and supervising call center employees. Call center managers are required to identify and solve call center problems as well as communicate with dissatisfied customers to find a satisfactory solution. They assist in the hiring and training of new and qualified call center candidates. Call center managers must also possess exceptional talents such as excellent interpersonal traits, customer service, and good conflict resolution skills.

Center director vs center manager salary

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

Center DirectorCenter Manager
Average salary$106,505$56,284
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $172,000Between $35,000 And $90,000
Highest paying CityNewark, DEJersey City, NJ
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNew Jersey
Best paying companyMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterCapgemini
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between center director and center manager education

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

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

Center director vs center manager demographics

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

Center DirectorCenter Manager
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 29.0% Female, 71.0%Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3%
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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage16%10%

Differences between center director and 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

Center manager example responsibilities.

  • Achieve or exceed SLA's by proactively managing multiple desktop support queues.
  • Create and manage the Facebook page for the station.
  • Manage multiple vendors for a variety of HVAC work.
  • Manage the disposition of vehicles and assets from facilities that are closed during DHL restructuring.
  • Perform all administrative and management duties require to operate the contact center and achieve all assign KPI's.
  • Manage the image, cleanliness and in-stock presentation of selling floor, stockrooms, back shop and entire facility.
  • Show more

Center director vs 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 center manager skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • OSHA, 7%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Safety Procedures, 4%
  • Professional Development, 4%
  • Keeping Track, 4%

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