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Leader vs process leader

The differences between leaders and process 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 a process leader. Additionally, a process leader has an average salary of $88,400, which is higher than the $86,964 average annual salary of a leader.

The top three skills for a leader include customer service, strong time management and excellent interpersonal. The most important skills for a process leader are customer service, cleanliness, and sales floor.

Leader vs process leader overview

LeaderProcess Leader
Yearly salary$86,964$88,400
Hourly rate$41.81$42.50
Growth rate10%11%
Number of jobs172,29371,467
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
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 a process leader do?

A process leader is responsible for overseeing the operational processes of an organization to support business functions and client requirements. Process leaders evaluate the efficiency of workflow procedures, identifying inconsistencies, and revising processing techniques as needed to improve deliverables and maximize productivity. They also train new employees, share best practices, and address their difficulties by organizing a specific learning approach. A process leader must have excellent communication and organizational skills, such as writing progress reports and identifying opportunities that would drive revenue resources for the business.

Leader vs process leader salary

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

LeaderProcess Leader
Average salary$86,964$88,400
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $153,000Between $59,000 And $132,000
Highest paying CityPortland, MEJersey City, NJ
Highest paying stateMaineNew Jersey
Best paying companyEli Lilly and CompanyBP America Inc
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between leader and process leader education

There are a few differences between a leader and a process leader in terms of educational background:

LeaderProcess Leader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Leader vs process leader demographics

Here are the differences between leaders' and process leaders' demographics:

LeaderProcess Leader
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 49.8% Female, 50.2%Male, 58.8% Female, 41.2%
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, 11.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 5.4% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between leader and process 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.
  • Show more

Process leader example responsibilities.

  • Lead process cost, capacity, and ROI forecasting
  • Manage the movement of work in progress (WIP) through the departments.
  • Manage day-to-day logistics of work orders to ensure they are progressing as scheduled and customer commitments are being meet.
  • Design, build, train and manage new cross site data team to support integrate ERP system for change control.
  • Initiate supplier - kitting, Kanban and vendor manage inventory processes of hardware, pipe, fittings and expense items.
  • Plan and facilitate Kaizen events that lead to significant business improvement results.
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Leader vs process leader skills

Common leader skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Strong Time Management, 9%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 7%
  • PET, 6%
  • Digital Transformation, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 5%
Common process leader skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Cleanliness, 8%
  • Sales Floor, 8%
  • Continuous Improvement, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Process Improvement, 6%

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