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The differences between creative project managers and category managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a creative project manager and a category manager. Additionally, a category manager has an average salary of $102,035, which is higher than the $75,415 average annual salary of a creative project manager.
The top three skills for a creative project manager include digital marketing, creative projects and creative services. The most important skills for a category manager are strategic sourcing, category strategy, and supplier performance.
| Creative Project Manager | Category Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $75,415 | $102,035 |
| Hourly rate | $36.26 | $49.06 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 159,224 | 108,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
Creative Project Managers oversee specific projects in the company. They work in the creative industry, usually with artists. These artists include graphic designers, art directors, photographers, and the like. They ensure project completion and proper coordination between different teams. Due to the nature of the creative industry, they should adapt to changes and be flexible. Creative Project Managers are expected to have extensive experience working in the creative industry and with different artists in the industry. This experience would help them navigate and complete projects.
Category managers are usually employed in the retail industry. They are primarily responsible for the sales enhancement of a specific group of products. The managers are involved in pricing, marketing, inventory, and vendor management. Their daily tasks include meeting with suppliers to talk about the plans, conducting orientation to the market research company, and updating category reports. Qualified applicants must have a degree in business administration or a related field as well as relevant job experience in a related job.
Creative project managers and category managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Creative Project Manager | Category Manager | |
| Average salary | $75,415 | $102,035 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $110,000 | Between $74,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Meta | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a creative project manager and a category manager in terms of educational background:
| Creative Project Manager | Category Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Business |
| Most common college | University of Wisconsin - Madison | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between creative project managers' and category managers' demographics:
| Creative Project Manager | Category Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5% | Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |