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The differences between managers and leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a manager, becoming a leader takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a leader has an average salary of $86,964, which is higher than the $58,651 average annual salary of a manager.
The top three skills for a manager include customer service, payroll and food safety. The most important skills for a leader are customer service, strong time management, and excellent interpersonal.
| Manager | Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $58,651 | $86,964 |
| Hourly rate | $28.20 | $41.81 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 1,236,194 | 172,293 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.57 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Managers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department. Managers are responsible that the department they are handling is functioning well. They set the department goals and the steps they must take to achieve the goals. They are also in charge of assessing the performance of their departments and their employees. Additionally, managers are responsible for interviewing prospective candidates for department vacancies and assessing their fit to the needs of the department. Managers also set the general working environment in the department, and they are expected to ensure that their employees remain motivated.
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.
Managers and leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manager | Leader | |
| Average salary | $58,651 | $86,964 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $92,000 | Between $49,000 And $153,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Portland, ME |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Maine |
| Best paying company | - | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a manager and a leader in terms of educational background:
| Manager | Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between managers' and leaders' demographics:
| Manager | Leader | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.0% Female, 49.0% | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 6% |