Clinical director vs unit director

The differences between clinical directors and unit 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 clinical director and a unit director. Additionally, a clinical director has an average salary of $96,497, which is higher than the $74,346 average annual salary of a unit director.

The top three skills for a clinical director include patients, patient care and physical therapy. The most important skills for a unit director are patients, patient care, and customer service.

Clinical director vs unit director overview

	Clinical Director	Unit Director
Yearly salary	$96,497	$74,346
Hourly rate	$46.39	$35.74
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	83,232	41,585
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a clinical director do?

A clinical director is a managing professional who manages the work of healthcare providers to ensure quality patient care is achieved. Clinical directors are responsible for organizational tasks such as adjusting staff schedules, explaining insurance benefits to the patients, and managing financial reports. They can work either in small clinics with a smaller workforce or larger hospitals with multiple departments. Clinical directors may also assist in the hiring process of healthcare providers and should establish a positive work environment.

What does a unit director do?

A unit director is a management professional who is responsible for directing and managing a group of medical professionals in an organization. This director must manage the daily clinical and administrative duties for those professionals involved in the mental health hospitalization programs. The director must assist in recruiting healthcare professionals to maximize the branch and margin profits of the medical establishment. This director should also attend meetings with the OCFS program to discuss the performance and outcome measures of the program.

Clinical director vs unit director salary

Clinical directors and unit directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Director	Unit Director
Average salary	$96,497	$74,346
Salary range	Between $63,000 And $145,000	Between $42,000 And $131,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Fairfield, CT
Highest paying state	Rhode Island	Connecticut
Best paying company	Sutro Biopharma	Palo Alto Networks
Best paying industry	Health Care	Manufacturing

Differences between clinical director and unit director education

There are a few differences between a clinical director and a unit director in terms of educational background:

	Clinical Director	Unit Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of Pennsylvania

Clinical director vs unit director demographics

Here are the differences between clinical directors' and unit directors' demographics:

	Clinical Director	Unit Director
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 35.2% Female, 64.8%	Male, 46.0% Female, 54.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 8.1% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between clinical director and unit director duties and responsibilities

Clinical director example responsibilities.

Develop distinctive ambulatory strategies to achieve and sustain competitive healthcare advantage.
Manage and assist with data collection and input for MDS.
Manage quality of documentation through education and electronic review of clinical processes utilizing HCHB EMR.
Manage front office, marketing, and communication -demonstrated/supervise exercises for patients -Developed instructional packets for home exercise programs
Manage projects and ambulatory system initiatives, and collaborate with system leadership teams to ensure EMR alignment with all regulatory requirements.
Experience in GCP, FDA audits, and regulatory guidance review and implementation.

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Unit director example responsibilities.

Prepare and manage payroll and purchasing, which include balancing of accounts within budgetary limits; establish daily interaction with clients.
Manage operational organizing of stock and equipment, order supplies and oversee building maintenance, cleanliness and security.
Provide case management services to residents in the Alzheimer's unit.
Migrate all operations to a new ERP and retail system with a successful implementation.
Develop and implement a program which assure quality of life for mid- stage Alzheimer's residents.
Oversee labor, as well as, payroll, purchases, complete work orders, and operating supplies.

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Clinical director vs unit director skills

Common clinical director skills

Patients, 18%
Patient Care, 11%
Physical Therapy, 5%
Social Work, 4%
Rehabilitation, 4%
Clinical Services, 3%

Common unit director skills

Patients, 23%
Patient Care, 21%
Customer Service, 14%
Cleanliness, 7%
Staff Development, 6%
Customer Satisfaction, 5%

Clinical Director vs. similar jobs

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Updated January 8, 2025

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