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City manager vs owner

The differences between city managers and owners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes More than 10 years to become both a city manager and an owner. Additionally, an owner has an average salary of $90,334, which is higher than the $76,188 average annual salary of a city manager.

The top three skills for a city manager include human resources, economic development and oversight. The most important skills for an owner are customer service, payroll, and financial statements.

City manager vs owner overview

City ManagerOwner
Yearly salary$76,188$90,334
Hourly rate$36.63$43.43
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs8,92886,486
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age5252
Years of experience--

What does a city manager do?

A city manager is responsible for monitoring city operations and manage staff to advise programs and initiatives for the benefits of the citizens. City managers oversee community projects and allocate adequate resources to support functions and societal activities. They also serve as a liaison to clear political disputes and officer conflicts. A city manager attends community events and meetings to represent the city, provide progress updates, and coordinate with other local organizations for sponsorship and funding events.

What does an owner do?

Owners, in the most basic sense, own the business, company, or organization. They are responsible for building the business. They create business plans and the general vision and mission of the company, set goals, work on these goals, and ensure that the business keeps running. They manage all aspects of their business, from finances to marketing to people, etc. When the business becomes stable, owners eventually hire more employees. As such, owners also become overseers who would ensure that the organization remains afloat.

City manager vs owner salary

City managers and owners have different pay scales, as shown below.

City ManagerOwner
Average salary$76,188$90,334
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $142,000Between $60,000 And $135,000
Highest paying CityHayward, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyAppleBP America Inc
Best paying industryStart-up-

Differences between city manager and owner education

There are a few differences between a city manager and an owner in terms of educational background:

City ManagerOwner
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

City manager vs owner demographics

Here are the differences between city managers' and owners' demographics:

City ManagerOwner
Average age5252
Gender ratioMale, 69.6% Female, 30.4%Male, 63.1% Female, 36.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 7.6% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between city manager and owner duties and responsibilities

City manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage debt issuance, debt service, redemptions and tax arbitrage calculations.
  • Interpret and apply GAAP and GASB and other applicable accounting guidelines.
  • Provide assistance in oversight and management of all city operations.
  • Deploy code enforcement oversight to counter deteriorating private properties as well as public infrastructure.
  • Complete major renovations and improvements to the city water plant and negotiate and purchase a new city police station building.
  • Save utility system from financial collapse while completing city wide meter installations with new water rate and tap fee schedules.
  • Show more

Owner example responsibilities.

  • Manage web content and a PHP / MySQL application.
  • Create and develop a website to help clients easily manage their instagram account to gain exposure.
  • Execute all social media marketing and manage the company Facebook page/campaigns.
  • Manage human resource functions by generating payroll, scheduling and upholding company policies.
  • License Maryland home improvement contractor managing a small home improvement business that specializes in doors and windows.
  • Manage end to end business operations including hiring, scheduling visits, conducting customer consultations and performing pet visits.
  • Show more

City manager vs owner skills

Common city manager skills
  • Human Resources, 9%
  • Economic Development, 8%
  • Oversight, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Public Works, 6%
  • Payroll, 6%
Common owner skills
  • Customer Service, 25%
  • Payroll, 17%
  • Financial Statements, 8%
  • Product Development, 7%
  • Real Estate, 3%
  • Business Development, 3%

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