Dept manager vs office manager

The differences between dept managers and office 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 office manager. Additionally, a dept manager has an average salary of $50,222, which is higher than the $43,395 average annual salary of an office manager.

The top three skills for a dept manager include customer service, sales floor and pallet jack. The most important skills for an office manager are customer service, patients, and financial statements.

Dept manager vs office manager overview

	Dept Manager	Office Manager
Yearly salary	$50,222	$43,395
Hourly rate	$24.15	$20.86
Growth rate	6%	-8%
Number of jobs	221,313	53,712
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age	43	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a dept manager do?

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.

What does an office manager do?

Office managers oversee the entire workplace. They maintain office processes and services to ensure that everything is running well. They manage office supplies by managing inventory and procurement procedures. They also device filing systems, create needed and relevant office policies, and ensure that all the policies are being followed. As a way to make sure that the office is in top shape, office managers supervise most of the logistical aspects inside the office. They also provide support to both management teams and the rest of the employees. They often act as the bridge between the two and would sometimes even assist in the training of new employees.

Dept manager vs office manager salary

Dept managers and office managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Dept Manager	Office Manager
Average salary	$50,222	$43,395
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $87,000	Between $30,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	Bay Shore, NY	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Rhode Island	New York
Best paying company	UPMC	Moody's
Best paying industry	Retail	Construction

Differences between dept manager and office manager education

There are a few differences between a dept manager and an office manager in terms of educational background:

	Dept Manager	Office Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	California State University - Bakersfield

Dept manager vs office manager demographics

Here are the differences between dept managers' and office managers' demographics:

	Dept Manager	Office Manager
Average age	43	47
Gender ratio	Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5%	Male, 13.5% Female, 86.5%
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, 10.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	9%	8%

Differences between dept manager and office manager duties and responsibilities

Dept manager example responsibilities.

Manage application process and hiring of employees for seasonal photography business.
Implement inventory management system to effectively manage on-hands, assist with correct replenishment and maintain an acceptable level of over-stock.
Experience with photography including DSLR formats and small to large format film processes.
Process merchandise information through store computer system, POS register system and complete all require paperwork.
Perform fast and efficient computerize cash register/credit card POS operations, cash accountability, and drive control.
Assist in several other departments throughout store, such as electronics, jewelry, automotive, apparel and sporting goods.

Office manager example responsibilities.

Manage international team development of RFP for new MPLS global network services.
Produce around $100k month sales/ billings, AIA documents, and manage customer accounts.
Monitor and manage the HVAC environment and nightly office cleaning performance for maximum comfort, appearance and functionality.
Manage PMO office functions including creation of strategic plan, marketing of services, and resource and project planning.
Manage production of an RFP to source $60m in software and services and manage a subset of the subsequent implementation.
Manage daily functions and systems to ensure patients receive appropriate accommodations under HIPAA guidelines.

Dept manager vs office manager skills

Common dept manager skills

Customer Service, 33%
Sales Floor, 9%
Pallet Jack, 9%
Inventory Control, 6%
Product Knowledge, 6%
Payroll, 4%

Common office manager skills

Customer Service, 19%
Patients, 13%
Financial Statements, 6%
Office Operations, 4%
Office Equipment, 4%
Scheduling Appointments, 4%

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Dept Manager
Dept Manager vs Office Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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