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The differences between directors and executive directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a director, becoming an executive director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an executive director has an average salary of $127,956, which is higher than the $113,489 average annual salary of a director.
The top three skills for a director include healthcare, customer service and oversight. The most important skills for an executive director are oversight, patients, and customer service.
| Director | Executive Director | |
| Yearly salary | $113,489 | $127,956 |
| Hourly rate | $54.56 | $61.52 |
| Growth rate | 8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 230,711 | 97,471 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 40 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Directors work in show business, whether in a film, a television show, or a theatre production. They are responsible for bringing the material to life. They work with the writers to get a clear vision of how the production should look. They lead the production team in planning for the production, identifying filming or rehearsing schedules, casting for roles, and other aspects that need to be decided upon. Directors provide direction to the actors to ensure that the actors understand their role and will be able to effectively convey emotions to the audience. They also manage all other crew members and communicate their expectations clearly so that everyone on the set is working towards one vision.
Executive directors are top management employees who usually function as a chief executive officer. This role is usually seen in non-profit organizations. Executive directors provide strategic direction to the organization, and they ensure that the organization's goals are actualized. They provide guidance to the employees and ensure that the employees have the organization's advocacies at the center of every project or program. They oversee the policies of the organization and create strategies that will bring the organization's programs forward. Executive directors are also responsible for making crucial decisions for the betterment of the organization.
Directors and executive directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director | Executive Director | |
| Average salary | $113,489 | $127,956 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $192,000 | Between $76,000 And $213,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | Genentech |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a director and an executive director in terms of educational background:
| Director | Executive Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between directors' and executive directors' demographics:
| Director | Executive Director | |
| Average age | 40 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8% | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 10% |