Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between chief executive officer/managers and executive directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a chief executive officer/manager, becoming an executive director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a chief executive officer/manager has an average salary of $140,165, which is higher than the $127,956 average annual salary of an executive director.
The top three skills for a chief executive officer/manager include financial statements, payroll and product development. The most important skills for an executive director are oversight, patients, and customer service.
| Chief Executive Officer/Manager | Executive Director | |
| Yearly salary | $140,165 | $127,956 |
| Hourly rate | $67.39 | $61.52 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 155,545 | 97,471 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 52 | 49 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A chief executive officer (CEO) serves as the leader, information or visionary bearer, manager, board developer, and the decision-maker of an organization. CEOs support the administration and operations of the board by extending advice and support. These executives handle the organization's human resources based on authorized personnel procedures and policies. They make sure that their organization and its products, mission, services, and programs appear strong and positive to target stakeholders. Also, they need to develop skills in negotiation, communication, and corporate governance.
Executive directors are top management employees who usually function as a chief executive officer. This role is usually seen in non-profit organizations. Executive directors provide strategic direction to the organization, and they ensure that the organization's goals are actualized. They provide guidance to the employees and ensure that the employees have the organization's advocacies at the center of every project or program. They oversee the policies of the organization and create strategies that will bring the organization's programs forward. Executive directors are also responsible for making crucial decisions for the betterment of the organization.
Chief executive officer/managers and executive directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Executive Officer/Manager | Executive Director | |
| Average salary | $140,165 | $127,956 |
| Salary range | Between $100,000 And $196,000 | Between $76,000 And $213,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New York |
| Best paying company | Parallels | Genentech |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a chief executive officer/manager and an executive director in terms of educational background:
| Chief Executive Officer/Manager | Executive Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between chief executive officer/managers' and executive directors' demographics:
| Chief Executive Officer/Manager | Executive Director | |
| Average age | 52 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.5% Female, 34.5% | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 7.5% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |