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The differences between director/managers and area 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/manager and an area director. Additionally, a director/manager has an average salary of $128,735, which is higher than the $100,433 average annual salary of an area director.
The top three skills for a director/manager include healthcare, patients and home health. The most important skills for an area director are customer service, patients, and home health.
| Director/Manager | Area Director | |
| Yearly salary | $128,735 | $100,433 |
| Hourly rate | $61.89 | $48.29 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 287,314 | 47,326 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A director/manager is responsible for developing strategic techniques to boost the operational efficiency of an organization in delivering high-quality services and satisfaction for the customers and business clients. Directors/managers identify business opportunities that would support the company's long-term goals and objectives, generating more revenues and closing contract deals for the business. They also handle the departmental budgets, allocating adequate resources for operations and project management. A director/manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in overseeing staff performance and handling their concerns.
Area directors oversee the operations of the company in a particular area. They manage the company's presence in their assigned area. Area directors come up with strategies so that their area meets company goals. They manage the company's performance in their area, from sales to marketing to finance to human resources. Area directors are expected to have in-depth knowledge of the situation and the context in the area they handle. They should be able to identify strengths and areas for improvement in their area. As such, they would be able to capitalize on their strengths and address their areas for improvement. Overall, area directors are responsible for the fulfillment of the company's vision in their area.
Director/managers and area directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director/Manager | Area Director | |
| Average salary | $128,735 | $100,433 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $187,000 | Between $55,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | AstraZeneca |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a director/manager and an area director in terms of educational background:
| Director/Manager | Area Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between director/managers' and area directors' demographics:
| Director/Manager | Area Director | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |