Corporate director vs corporate manager

The differences between corporate directors and corporate managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a corporate director, becoming a corporate manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a corporate director has an average salary of $154,906, which is higher than the $108,486 average annual salary of a corporate manager.

The top three skills for a corporate director include project management, oversight and customer service. The most important skills for a corporate manager are project management, healthcare, and oversight.

Corporate director vs corporate manager overview

	Corporate Director	Corporate Manager
Yearly salary	$154,906	$108,486
Hourly rate	$74.47	$52.16
Growth rate	5%	6%
Number of jobs	66,254	233,928
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	46	44
Years of experience	8	6

What does a corporate director do?

A corporate director is a business individual who is an elected or appointed member of the board of directors that directs or manages a corporation. Corporate directors are responsible for making decisions regarding the supervision of the entire enterprise as well as their products and services. They are in control of others' property and are liable to both their individual and joint actions. Corporate directors are also bound by the duty to act within the scope of their authority and must exercise due care in the performance of their corporate tasks.

What does a corporate manager do?

A corporate manager is responsible for leading the corporate team in operational processes and ensuring that the company provides the highest satisfaction for the clients. Corporate managers identify business opportunities through data and statistical analysis and review of current market trends to generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profitability. They resolve process gaps, handle the operational budget, and represent the company in regional corporate meetings, requiring them to possess excellent communication and leadership skills.

Corporate director vs corporate manager salary

Corporate directors and corporate managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Corporate Director	Corporate Manager
Average salary	$154,906	$108,486
Salary range	Between $102,000 And $233,000	Between $78,000 And $149,000
Highest paying City	Beaverton, OR	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Oregon	California
Best paying company	AbbVie	Macerich
Best paying industry	Finance	Finance

Differences between corporate director and corporate manager education

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

	Corporate Director	Corporate Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Pennsylvania

Corporate director vs corporate manager demographics

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

	Corporate Director	Corporate Manager
Average age	46	44
Gender ratio	Male, 66.4% Female, 33.6%	Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	10%

Differences between corporate director and corporate manager duties and responsibilities

Corporate director example responsibilities.

Lead corporate governance and compliance functions and manage securities law and relate issues for ESOP (employee-own) enterprise.
Manage RFP for selection of new benefit consultants.
Manage the RFP development and review process through to vendor selection and contract finalization.
Manage accounting staff to provide accurate financial close in compliance with all internal control and SOX requirements.
Manage EHS compliance for a large-scale construction company specializing in smokestack construction.
Manage activities of divisional quality representatives for compliance to ISO 9001 and quality initiatives.

Corporate manager example responsibilities.

Manage temperature control (HVAC system) for office space.
Manage building maintenance and HVAC, contract services (i.e.
Manage all aspects of mailroom operations, reproduction, facsimile department, courier services, and supply ordering and maintenance.
Lead implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley and develop training program used to instruct all domestic and international finance employees.
Manage elaborate software implementation projects relate to national convenience store/gas station point of sale (POS) technology.
Create presentations and training manuals for staff meetings using Microsoft PowerPoint.

Corporate director vs corporate manager skills

Common corporate director skills

Project Management, 7%
Oversight, 7%
Customer Service, 6%
Financial Statements, 5%
Patients, 5%
Business Development, 4%

Common corporate manager skills

Project Management, 10%
Healthcare, 8%
Oversight, 6%
Financial Statements, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%
Process Improvement, 4%

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Corporate Director
Corporate Director vs Corporate Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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