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The differences between executive directors and deans 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 dean takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an executive director has an average salary of $127,956, which is higher than the $86,318 average annual salary of a dean.
The top three skills for an executive director include oversight, patients and customer service. The most important skills for a dean are curriculum development, oversight, and scholarship.
| Executive Director | Dean | |
| Yearly salary | $127,956 | $86,318 |
| Hourly rate | $61.52 | $41.50 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 97,471 | 1,183 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 49 | 47 |
| 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.
A dean is responsible for overseeing the educational operations of the assigned department, enforcing school policies, and monitoring the students' progress by coordinating with the teachers and setting up procedures to improve teaching methods. Deans administer educational training and programs for the students, as well as extra-curricular activities to develop the students' social behavior, maximize their potentials, and increase their self-confidence. They also handle the department's budget, accurately allocating resources and funds to different activities and educational materials.
Executive directors and deans have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Executive Director | Dean | |
| Average salary | $127,956 | $86,318 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $213,000 | Between $49,000 And $150,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Los Altos, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Palmer College of Chiropractic |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between an executive director and a dean in terms of educational background:
| Executive Director | Dean | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between executive directors' and deans' demographics:
| Executive Director | Dean | |
| Average age | 49 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 53.8% Female, 46.2% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 16% |