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The differences between executive producers and production managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an executive producer, becoming a production manager takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an executive producer has an average salary of $117,841, which is higher than the $78,064 average annual salary of a production manager.
The top three skills for an executive producer include video production, digital content and digital platforms. The most important skills for a production manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and quality standards.
| Executive Producer | Production Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $117,841 | $78,064 |
| Hourly rate | $56.65 | $37.53 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 74,007 | 95,561 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 40 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
An executive producer is responsible for supervising the creation and development of digital entertainment content. Executive producers secure and maintain the production budget, negotiate with a production company, and manage marketing campaigns for promotion. They also work with multiple producers to finalize the production team, review the creative content, and ensure the completeness of production plans within the agreed timeframe. An executive producer must have excellent communication and organization skills, especially on coordinating with production personnel to ensure the smooth flow of the production operations.
Production managers work in show business, whether in film, television shows, or theatre productions. They oversee the whole production and ensure that all agreements are met. They manage finances and budget allocation. They oversee the design of costumes and sets. They also manage the timeline of filming and ensure that the production or filming will finish within the agreed timeline. Production managers also ensure that all stakeholders are satisfied. They build meaningful working relationships with everyone involved, from directors to actors to crew members. They try to mitigate any potential challenges in the production budget and schedule.
Executive producers and production managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Executive Producer | Production Manager | |
| Average salary | $117,841 | $78,064 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $190,000 | Between $50,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Netflix | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an executive producer and a production manager in terms of educational background:
| Executive Producer | Production Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Communication | Business |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between executive producers' and production managers' demographics:
| Executive Producer | Production Manager | |
| Average age | 40 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.3% Female, 37.7% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 6% |