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The differences between executive directors and program 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 a program director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an executive director has an average salary of $127,956, which is higher than the $80,664 average annual salary of a program director.
The top three skills for an executive director include oversight, patients and customer service. The most important skills for a program director are oversight, social work, and patients.
| Executive Director | Program Director | |
| Yearly salary | $127,956 | $80,664 |
| Hourly rate | $61.52 | $38.78 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 97,471 | 82,810 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 49 | 40 |
| 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.
Program directors are employees who oversee all aspects of a specific program in the company. They usually work in nonprofit organizations or are assigned to a department doing corporate social responsibility activities. Program directors ensure that the program is in line with the company's goals. They also ensure that the resources assigned to the program are properly managed and that all finances are accounted for. They create strategies to ensure the success of the program and communicate these to everyone involved. They lead the implementation and evaluation of the program.
Executive directors and program directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Executive Director | Program Director | |
| Average salary | $127,956 | $80,664 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $213,000 | Between $50,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Georgia |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an executive director and a program director in terms of educational background:
| Executive Director | Program Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between executive directors' and program directors' demographics:
| Executive Director | Program Director | |
| Average age | 49 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% |
| 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, 8.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 14% |