Licensing manager vs category manager

The differences between licensing managers and category managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a licensing manager and a category manager. Additionally, a category manager has an average salary of $102,035, which is higher than the $91,723 average annual salary of a licensing manager.

The top three skills for a licensing manager include business development, project management and license agreements. The most important skills for a category manager are strategic sourcing, category strategy, and supplier performance.

Licensing manager vs category manager overview

	Licensing Manager	Category Manager
Yearly salary	$91,723	$102,035
Hourly rate	$44.10	$49.06
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	64,732	108,424
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	10	10

What does a licensing manager do?

A licensing manager is typically in charge of processing licensing applications. Among their responsibilities include gathering and verifying information, reviewing and gathering application requirements, answering inquiries, preparing and processing documents, and conducting further assessments to determine an applicants' compliance with the state or federal laws. There are also instances when they have the authority to approve or reject applications. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while implementing the agency's policies and regulations.

What does a category manager do?

Category managers are usually employed in the retail industry. They are primarily responsible for the sales enhancement of a specific group of products. The managers are involved in pricing, marketing, inventory, and vendor management. Their daily tasks include meeting with suppliers to talk about the plans, conducting orientation to the market research company, and updating category reports. Qualified applicants must have a degree in business administration or a related field as well as relevant job experience in a related job.

Licensing manager vs category manager salary

Licensing managers and category managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Licensing Manager	Category Manager
Average salary	$91,723	$102,035
Salary range	Between $58,000 And $142,000	Between $74,000 And $138,000
Highest paying City	Norwalk, CT	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Nevada
Best paying company	Kaiser Permanente	McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry	Technology	Manufacturing

Differences between licensing manager and category manager education

There are a few differences between a licensing manager and a category manager in terms of educational background:

	Licensing Manager	Category Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Georgia	University of Georgia

Licensing manager vs category manager demographics

Here are the differences between licensing managers' and category managers' demographics:

	Licensing Manager	Category Manager
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 46.5% Female, 53.5%	Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between licensing manager and category manager duties and responsibilities

Licensing manager example responsibilities.

Lead quality assurance initiatives and participate in large customer RFP 's
Manage communication, coordination and organization between MLB and department teams.
Maintain patients charts and maintaining accurate documentation, while making sure unit operates smoothly to achieve optimum patient satisfaction.
Correct discrepancies between CRD and FINRA records.
Create PowerPoint presentations and handout materials for all seminars.
Coordinate and assist with obtaining DEA and CSR licensures for physicians.

Category manager example responsibilities.

Lead team to manage predominantly seasonal fashion apparel by reacting to trends with appropriate buys and proactive exit strategies.
Manage and create purchase plans and OTB's.
Design and manage all BTL plans for the brands.
Manage multiple sources of data to mine for business voids and opportunities at both macro and micro levels.
Deliver profit and sales forecasts, manage merchandising budget, and used IRI data to produce optimal product mix.
Lead a high performance jewelry merchandising team in a digital commerce environment through television, e-commerce, and social media.

Licensing manager vs category manager skills

Common licensing manager skills

Business Development, 11%
Project Management, 9%
License Agreements, 9%
Intellectual Property, 7%
Product Development, 6%
Direct Reports, 5%

Common category manager skills

Strategic Sourcing, 8%
Category Strategy, 8%
Supplier Performance, 5%
Supplier Relationships, 4%
Customer Service, 4%
Cost Savings, 4%

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Licensing Manager
Licensing Manager vs Category Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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