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The differences between chief program officers and program directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a chief program officer and a program director. Additionally, a chief program officer has an average salary of $108,110, which is higher than the $80,664 average annual salary of a program director.
The top three skills for a chief program officer include human resources, oversight and project management. The most important skills for a program director are oversight, social work, and patients.
| Chief Program Officer | Program Director | |
| Yearly salary | $108,110 | $80,664 |
| Hourly rate | $51.98 | $38.78 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 150,634 | 82,810 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The chief program officer (CPO) is responsible for developing, implementing, and supervising a non-profit organization's programming, such as creating an outreach program or job training courses for the homeless. They seek advice from the CEO and other executive managers at the organization on how to enhance the existing programming and services and coordinate new programs. Other duties and responsibilities include managing program implementation and funding, as well as giving guidance to program coordinators, staff, and volunteers. Additionally, they seek feedback and evaluate the effectiveness of programs.
Program directors are employees who oversee all aspects of a specific program in the company. They usually work in nonprofit organizations or are assigned to a department doing corporate social responsibility activities. Program directors ensure that the program is in line with the company's goals. They also ensure that the resources assigned to the program are properly managed and that all finances are accounted for. They create strategies to ensure the success of the program and communicate these to everyone involved. They lead the implementation and evaluation of the program.
Chief program officers and program directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Program Officer | Program Director | |
| Average salary | $108,110 | $80,664 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $171,000 | Between $50,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Georgia |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Technology |
There are a few differences between a chief program officer and a program director in terms of educational background:
| Chief Program Officer | Program Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between chief program officers' and program directors' demographics:
| Chief Program Officer | Program Director | |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 14% |