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The differences between directors of special events and community development directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a director of special events and a community development director. Additionally, a community development director has an average salary of $109,396, which is higher than the $63,671 average annual salary of a director of special events.
The top three skills for a director of special events include event planning, alumni and event management. The most important skills for a community development director are economic development, oversight, and project management.
| Director Of Special Events | Community Development Director | |
| Yearly salary | $63,671 | $109,396 |
| Hourly rate | $30.61 | $52.59 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 23,252 | 66,252 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A director of special events spearheads and oversees the planning and execution of various events, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They typically set goals and guidelines, manage schedules and timelines, outline plans and strategies, coordinate managers and different departments, and liaise with vendors and suppliers, building positive business relationships in the process. Moreover, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
The job of a community development director is to manage and direct the management and planning initiatives for a community or city organization. Your duties will include collaborating with community partners in developing strategies to improve the community, architectural and economic initiatives, monitoring budgets for department initiatives, and participating in business development efforts. As a community development director, it is your responsibility to develop and maintain the community development department's short- and long-term developmental goals. It is also your duty to develop and coordinate marketing strategies for economic development.
Directors of special events and community development directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Special Events | Community Development Director | |
| Average salary | $63,671 | $109,396 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $113,000 | Between $70,000 And $169,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | NRDC | Bazaarvoice |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a director of special events and a community development director in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Special Events | Community Development Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between directors of special events' and community development directors' demographics:
| Director Of Special Events | Community Development Director | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.1% Female, 74.9% | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |