Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between leaders and senior leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a leader, becoming a senior leader takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior leader has an average salary of $114,328, 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 senior leader are java, project management, and architecture.
| Leader | Senior Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $86,964 | $114,328 |
| Hourly rate | $41.81 | $54.97 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 172,293 | 214,805 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 46 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
A senior leader specializes in overseeing the business operations and work progress within a particular department or office. Focusing on the workflow and the workforce, they are in charge of assessing performances and motivating staff to meet goals and stay within the allotted time and budget. They may also participate in the hiring and training of new employees, utilizing their talents and shaping them into valuable members of the workforce, all while implementing company rules and regulations.
Leaders and senior leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Leader | Senior Leader | |
| Average salary | $86,964 | $114,328 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $153,000 | Between $80,000 And $162,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | California |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a leader and a senior leader in terms of educational background:
| Leader | Senior Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between leaders' and senior leaders' demographics:
| Leader | Senior Leader | |
| Average age | 46 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.6% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |