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Leader vs operations team leader

The differences between leaders and operations team leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a leader and an operations team leader. Additionally, a leader has an average salary of $86,964, which is higher than the $55,160 average annual salary of an operations team leader.

The top three skills for a leader include customer service, strong time management and excellent interpersonal. The most important skills for an operations team leader are customer service, continuous improvement, and excellent interpersonal.

Leader vs operations team leader overview

LeaderOperations Team Leader
Yearly salary$86,964$55,160
Hourly rate$41.81$26.52
Growth rate10%6%
Number of jobs172,293179,669
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4646
Years of experience22

What does a leader do?

Leaders pave the way for a company to achieve certain goals. They are in charge of bringing the organization to greater heights. They set the direction of the organization, much like how a captain sets the sails of the ship. They are responsible for coming up with main strategies and alternatives should there be challenges along the way. Leaders ensure that the company is guided by its vision and mission and that the employees emulate company values. They do so through leading by example. Leaders should have strategic skills, decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.

What does an operations team leader do?

An operations team leader is an individual who manages teams, encouraging cooperation, productivity, and teamwork. Operations team leaders foster team unity and enhance the daily efficiency of the companies or any business establishment. They manage a diverse workforce in companies to make sure that the organizational operations are efficient. Also, they implement programs and processes and oversee building maintenance. It is also their responsibility to manage mechanical and human resources and establish a team budget.

Leader vs operations team leader salary

Leaders and operations team leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

LeaderOperations Team Leader
Average salary$86,964$55,160
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $153,000Between $28,000 And $107,000
Highest paying CityPortland, MEBoston, MA
Highest paying stateMaineMassachusetts
Best paying companyEli Lilly and CompanyMcKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry--

Differences between leader and operations team leader education

There are a few differences between a leader and an operations team leader in terms of educational background:

LeaderOperations Team Leader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Leader vs operations team leader demographics

Here are the differences between leaders' and operations team leaders' demographics:

LeaderOperations Team Leader
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 49.8% Female, 50.2%Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 4.7% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between leader and operations team leader duties and responsibilities

Leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage UNIX and mainframe systems software staff.
  • Achieve business metrics and implement WCM tools and processes.
  • Lead instrument calibration, OOS investigation, change control, deviation documentation to comply with GMP.
  • Lead a group to help a dog food producer to gain traction in the grocery store channel
  • Perform diagnostics, lead audits, kaizen events, value stream mapping, PDCA teams and employee involvement.
  • Lead in PTA efforts to recognize school staff by planning events and organize and plan monthly appreciation gifts.
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Operations team leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage a team of CNC operators during the facility's exit strategy for machining.
  • Help develop new WMS system and implement real time visual control charts to achieve production and quality KPI metrics.
  • Manage SLA by prioritizing and resolving requests/Incidents in accordance with agree service level agreement.
  • Manage an embed Facebook executive protection team that provide security and logistical support for a corporate executive and his family.
  • Initiate and complete deviations along with CAPA and/or NTR's.
  • Document production data, including OEE, QPS, and safety tracking forms.
  • Show more

Leader vs operations team leader skills

Common leader skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Strong Time Management, 9%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 7%
  • PET, 6%
  • Digital Transformation, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 5%
Common operations team leader skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Continuous Improvement, 7%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 6%
  • Sales Floor, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 5%
  • Process Improvement, 5%

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