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The differences between executive directors and president/chief executive 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 president/chief executive officer takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a president/chief executive officer has an average salary of $240,732, 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 president/chief executive officer are financial management, revenue growth, and R.
| Executive Director | President/Chief Executive Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $127,956 | $240,732 |
| Hourly rate | $61.52 | $115.74 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 97,471 | 163,378 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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.
Considered as the highest authority in a company, a president/chief executive officer is in charge of leading the company by implementing corporate decisions and shaping the organization to its fullest extent. They must craft strategic plans and guidelines, enforce policies and standards, direct the vision and mission, and address the public as the head of the company. Furthermore, a president/chief executive officer must maintain an active line of communication at all times as they must report to a board of directors and coordinate with other company employees.
Executive directors and president/chief executive officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Executive Director | President/Chief Executive Officer | |
| Average salary | $127,956 | $240,732 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $213,000 | Between $134,000 And $429,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an executive director and a president/chief executive officer in terms of educational background:
| Executive Director | President/Chief Executive Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between executive directors' and president/chief executive officers' demographics:
| Executive Director | President/Chief Executive Officer | |
| Average age | 49 | 52 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 78.9% Female, 21.1% |
| 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, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 7.6% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |