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The differences between department managers and executive assistant/office managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a department manager, becoming an executive assistant/office manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a department manager has an average salary of $67,160, which is higher than the $59,405 average annual salary of an executive assistant/office manager.
The top three skills for a department manager include inventory management, sales promotions and cleanliness. The most important skills for an executive assistant/office manager are customer service, financial reports, and office equipment.
| Department Manager | Executive Assistant/Office Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $67,160 | $59,405 |
| Hourly rate | $32.29 | $28.56 |
| Growth rate | 5% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 330,327 | 119,266 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 43 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Department managers oversee the operations of the department they are assigned to. They manage all aspects of the operation, including finance, sales, quality control, and human resources. They set department goals and the steps the team needs to take to ensure that the goals are met. Department managers are also in charge of training team members so that these team members will be able to work together harmoniously. They should also be able to keep the team's goal in sight and adjust their strategy as needed.
An executive assistant/office manager specializes in administrative support tasks within an office or an organization. One of their primary responsibilities includes assisting the director or head of an office by responding to calls and inquiries, handling correspondence, arranging appointments and meetings, managing schedules, and reporting necessary updates. They must also monitor inventory and procure necessary supplies, process documentation, and perform other tasks to support staff. Furthermore, an executive assistant/office manager may take part in the preparations and approval of the payroll, budget, and other necessary databases concerning employees and departments.
Department managers and executive assistant/office managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Department Manager | Executive Assistant/Office Manager | |
| Average salary | $67,160 | $59,405 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $115,000 | Between $39,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Ralph Lauren | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Real Estate |
There are a few differences between a department manager and an executive assistant/office manager in terms of educational background:
| Department Manager | Executive Assistant/Office Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between department managers' and executive assistant/office managers' demographics:
| Department Manager | Executive Assistant/Office Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2% | Male, 11.9% Female, 88.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |