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The differences between directors and program directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a director and a program director. Additionally, a director has an average salary of $113,489, which is higher than the $80,664 average annual salary of a program director.
The top three skills for a director include healthcare, customer service and oversight. The most important skills for a program director are oversight, social work, and patients.
| Director | Program Director | |
| Yearly salary | $113,489 | $80,664 |
| Hourly rate | $54.56 | $38.78 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 230,711 | 82,810 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
Program directors are employees who oversee all aspects of a specific program in the company. They usually work in nonprofit organizations or are assigned to a department doing corporate social responsibility activities. Program directors ensure that the program is in line with the company's goals. They also ensure that the resources assigned to the program are properly managed and that all finances are accounted for. They create strategies to ensure the success of the program and communicate these to everyone involved. They lead the implementation and evaluation of the program.
Directors and program directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director | Program Director | |
| Average salary | $113,489 | $80,664 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $192,000 | Between $50,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Georgia |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a director and a program director in terms of educational background:
| Director | Program Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between directors' and program directors' demographics:
| Director | Program Director | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8% | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% |
| 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, 8.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 14% |