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The differences between dept managers and assistant managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a dept manager and an assistant manager. Additionally, a dept manager has an average salary of $50,222, which is higher than the $39,127 average annual salary of an assistant manager.
The top three skills for a dept manager include customer service, sales floor and pallet jack. The most important skills for an assistant manager are paperwork, cleanliness, and customer service.
| Dept Manager | Assistant Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $50,222 | $39,127 |
| Hourly rate | $24.15 | $18.81 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 221,313 | 566,132 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A department manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the assigned department, ensuring the maximum productivity and optimal performance of the staff. Department managers also coordinate with business partners, clients, and customers, as well as identifying business opportunities to drive more revenues and increase profitability. They handle department budgets and maintain the proper allocation of resources to support project management and deliverables. A department manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, managing the staff's needs, and providing excellent support.
An assistant manager provides assistance and support to the direct manager in ensuring that the business runs smoothly with guaranteed satisfaction. An associate manager helps organize daily projects and manages employees to make sure that tasks are being done in a timely and accurate manner. Assistant managers are also expected to develop a good relationship with the whole workforce and clients to contribute to a successful and healthy workplace. An assistant manager is also required to present practical strategies for business growth, monitor daily operations, and communicate with clients for any possible suggestions and complaints.
Dept managers and assistant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dept Manager | Assistant Manager | |
| Average salary | $50,222 | $39,127 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $87,000 | Between $23,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bay Shore, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | UPMC | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a dept manager and an assistant manager in terms of educational background:
| Dept Manager | Assistant Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between dept managers' and assistant managers' demographics:
| Dept Manager | Assistant Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5% | Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |