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The differences between executive directors and area directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an executive director, becoming an area director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an executive director has an average salary of $127,956, which is higher than the $100,433 average annual salary of an area director.
The top three skills for an executive director include oversight, patients and customer service. The most important skills for an area director are customer service, patients, and home health.
| Executive Director | Area Director | |
| Yearly salary | $127,956 | $100,433 |
| Hourly rate | $61.52 | $48.29 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 97,471 | 47,326 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 49 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
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.
Executive directors and area directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Executive Director | Area Director | |
| Average salary | $127,956 | $100,433 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $213,000 | Between $55,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Genentech | AstraZeneca |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an executive director and an area director in terms of educational background:
| Executive Director | Area Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between executive directors' and area directors' demographics:
| Executive Director | Area Director | |
| Average age | 49 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |