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The differences between development directors and managers of special events can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a development director and a manager of special events. Additionally, a development director has an average salary of $107,044, which is higher than the $56,716 average annual salary of a manager of special events.
The top three skills for a development director include digital marketing, oversight and patients. The most important skills for a manager of special events are customer service, event planning, and event management.
| Development Director | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Yearly salary | $107,044 | $56,716 |
| Hourly rate | $51.46 | $27.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 63,008 | 15,818 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A development director is an individual who is responsible for securing funds and sponsors for non-profit organizations. Development directors must actively seek new business partners and develop relationships with volunteers and donors. They meet with members of the development team to help advertise and promote brand awareness and funding. Development directors must possess skills and experience in managing human resources, marketing, and budgeting functions. They must also obtain a bachelor's degree in business management, public relations, or related field.
A manager of special events is responsible for organizing events and programs for a company and various organizations. Managers of special events monitor the event procedures from conceptualization to the actual execution. They analyze the event purpose, manage participants' list, coordinate with suppliers for resources, allocate budget accurately, and ensure that the program outlines and agendas are polished on time. A manager of special events must have excellent communication and organizational skills to deliver a successful event and resolve complications as they arise.
Development directors and managers of special events have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Development Director | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Average salary | $107,044 | $56,716 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $177,000 | Between $31,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Cornerstone Research | ESPN |
| Best paying industry | - | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a development director and a manager of special events in terms of educational background:
| Development Director | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between development directors' and managers of special events' demographics:
| Development Director | Manager Of Special Events | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8% | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |