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The differences between dept managers and office managers/receptionist 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/receptionist. Additionally, a dept manager has an average salary of $50,222, which is higher than the $39,696 average annual salary of an office manager/receptionist.
The top three skills for a dept manager include customer service, sales floor and pallet jack. The most important skills for an office manager/receptionist are patients, customer service, and payroll.
| Dept Manager | Office Manager/Receptionist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,222 | $39,696 |
| Hourly rate | $24.15 | $19.08 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 221,313 | 58,318 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| 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 office manager/receptionist specializes in performing administrative duties in an office or department. One of their primary responsibilities is to greet visitors or clients, answer inquiries, respond to calls and correspondence, arrange appointments, manage schedules, and receive documents or messages. They may also assess staff performance, disseminate information, delegate tasks, and provide support for team members. Furthermore, should there be any issues, it is essential to address and resolve them, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.
Dept managers and office managers/receptionist have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dept Manager | Office Manager/Receptionist | |
| Average salary | $50,222 | $39,696 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $87,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bay Shore, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | - |
| Best paying company | UPMC | - |
| Best paying industry | Retail | - |
There are a few differences between a dept manager and an office manager/receptionist in terms of educational background:
| Dept Manager | Office Manager/Receptionist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between dept managers' and office managers/receptionist' demographics:
| Dept Manager | Office Manager/Receptionist | |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5% | Male, 7.0% Female, 93.0% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 5.2% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |