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The differences between executive directors and chief operating officers 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 a chief operating officer takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a chief operating officer has an average salary of $136,604, which is higher than the $127,956 average annual salary of an executive director.
The top three skills for an executive director include oversight, patients and customer service. The most important skills for a chief operating officer are healthcare, customer service, and oversight.
| Executive Director | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $127,956 | $136,604 |
| Hourly rate | $61.52 | $65.67 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 97,471 | 128,993 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 49 | 52 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
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.
A chief operating officer, also known as a COO, is a high-ranking official who oversees a company or organization's daily administrative and overall operations. They are typically the second in the chain of command, reporting directly to the company's chief executive officer, also known as a CEO. Among their duties include developing strategies and guidelines, reviewing reports, performing assessments, and implementing the company's policies, standards, and regulations. Additionally, they lead and empower staff to reach goals, helping solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Executive directors and chief operating officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Executive Director | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average salary | $127,956 | $136,604 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $213,000 | Between $81,000 And $229,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Baker McKenzie |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an executive director and a chief operating officer in terms of educational background:
| Executive Director | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between executive directors' and chief operating officers' demographics:
| Executive Director | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average age | 49 | 52 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| 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, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |