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The differences between director/operations 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/operations manager and an area director. Additionally, a director/operations manager has an average salary of $108,519, which is higher than the $100,433 average annual salary of an area director.
The top three skills for a director/operations manager include customer service, financial statements and payroll. The most important skills for an area director are customer service, patients, and home health.
| Director/Operations Manager | Area Director | |
| Yearly salary | $108,519 | $100,433 |
| Hourly rate | $52.17 | $48.29 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 242,743 | 47,326 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A director/operations manager spearheads and oversees the operations of an organization. They primarily set goals and guidelines, establish roadmaps and timelines, participate in recruitment procedures, and implement policies and regulations, developing new ones as necessary. They monitor operations, pointing out issues and concerns should there be any. They also have the responsibility to make decisions, negotiate and finalize deals with external parties, and build strong relationships with business partners. Moreover, a director/operations manager encourages and leads employees towards the organization's short and long-term goals while promoting industry and company standards.
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/operations managers and area directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director/Operations Manager | Area Director | |
| Average salary | $108,519 | $100,433 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $161,000 | Between $55,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Novartis | AstraZeneca |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a director/operations manager and an area director in terms of educational background:
| Director/Operations Manager | Area Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between director/operations managers' and area directors' demographics:
| Director/Operations Manager | Area Director | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.4% Female, 29.6% | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.1% 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% |