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Design manager vs project manager/design manager

The differences between design managers and project manager/design managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a design manager, becoming a project manager/design manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a design manager has an average salary of $102,637, which is higher than the $83,794 average annual salary of a project manager/design manager.

The top three skills for a design manager include sketch, project management and visualization. The most important skills for a project manager/design manager are project management, CAD, and construction management.

Design manager vs project manager/design manager overview

Design ManagerProject Manager/Design Manager
Yearly salary$102,637$83,794
Hourly rate$49.34$40.29
Growth rate2%8%
Number of jobs61,273139,531
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4846
Years of experience-8

Design manager vs project manager/design manager salary

Design managers and project manager/design managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Design ManagerProject Manager/Design Manager
Average salary$102,637$83,794
Salary rangeBetween $69,000 And $150,000Between $55,000 And $126,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyMetaIntuitive Surgical
Best paying industryTechnologyManufacturing

Differences between design manager and project manager/design manager education

There are a few differences between a design manager and a project manager/design manager in terms of educational background:

Design ManagerProject Manager/Design Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorGraphic DesignArchitecture
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborHarvard University

Design manager vs project manager/design manager demographics

Here are the differences between design managers' and project manager/design managers' demographics:

Design ManagerProject Manager/Design Manager
Average age4846
Gender ratioMale, 63.8% Female, 36.2%Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 11.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 70.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage9%4%

Differences between design manager and project manager/design manager duties and responsibilities

Design manager example responsibilities.

  • Help achieve status of medical device manufacturer through the FDA.
  • Manage several consultants preparing contract documents on the various NYC let and NYS let projects.
  • Manage and collaborate with ASIC library/memory vendors.
  • Manage design, tooling, equipment implementations and process improvements for foundry/machining metalworking manufacturer of automotive OEM products.
  • Design blueprints, bills of materials, FEA as required.
  • Include producing FDA and ISO-9000 level documentation of the project.
  • Show more

Project manager/design manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage and approve all changes to the project along with all AIA document approvals.
  • Involve in Unix shell script development to automate ETL jobs by using Informatica sessions and workflows.
  • Manage the schematic phase and generate all the necessary documents to be submit to the structural and MEP consultants.
  • Manage internal prototype injection molding operations on a project basis.
  • Lead efforts to redesign and convert existing self-pace and instructor-le course materials into eLearning and web-base formats.
  • Lead safety compliance by conducting regular safety meetings with subcontractors and strictly enforcing safety policies and procedures, including OSHA regulations.
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Design manager vs project manager/design manager skills

Common design manager skills
  • Sketch, 8%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Visualization, 5%
  • User Experience, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Design Process, 4%
Common project manager/design manager skills
  • Project Management, 20%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Construction Management, 5%
  • Fire Protection, 5%
  • Project Scope, 5%
  • Revit, 4%

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