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Mental health program manager vs program director

The differences between mental health program managers and program directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a mental health program manager and a program director. Additionally, a program director has an average salary of $80,664, which is higher than the $74,778 average annual salary of a mental health program manager.

The top three skills for a mental health program manager include social work, behavioral health and mental health. The most important skills for a program director are oversight, social work, and patients.

Mental health program manager vs program director overview

Mental Health Program ManagerProgram Director
Yearly salary$74,778$80,664
Hourly rate$35.95$38.78
Growth rate28%8%
Number of jobs136,59882,810
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4740
Years of experience66

What does a mental health program manager do?

A mental health program manager is in charge of creating and overseeing mental health programs in their organization. They are tasked with following up with patients, designing programs, monitoring program progress, working with other health professionals to ensure patient concerns are addressed, and meeting with patients' families to offer emotional and logistical support. They need to develop strict guidelines to help with mental health, develop policies with other company leaders to ensure patient needs are met, and manage the databases and patient charts.

What does a program director do?

Program directors are employees who oversee all aspects of a specific program in the company. They usually work in nonprofit organizations or are assigned to a department doing corporate social responsibility activities. Program directors ensure that the program is in line with the company's goals. They also ensure that the resources assigned to the program are properly managed and that all finances are accounted for. They create strategies to ensure the success of the program and communicate these to everyone involved. They lead the implementation and evaluation of the program.

Mental health program manager vs program director salary

Mental health program managers and program directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Mental Health Program ManagerProgram Director
Average salary$74,778$80,664
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $111,000Between $50,000 And $129,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaGeorgia
Best paying companyFraser LtdMayo Clinic
Best paying industryNon ProfitsTechnology

Differences between mental health program manager and program director education

There are a few differences between a mental health program manager and a program director in terms of educational background:

Mental Health Program ManagerProgram Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborStanford University

Mental health program manager vs program director demographics

Here are the differences between mental health program managers' and program directors' demographics:

Mental Health Program ManagerProgram Director
Average age4740
Gender ratioMale, 28.6% Female, 71.4%Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage12%14%

Differences between mental health program manager and program director duties and responsibilities

Mental health program manager example responsibilities.

  • Conduct daily clinical documentation audits, manage consumer financial accounts, provide oversight and approval for all treatment and discharge planning.
  • Conduct billing and coding through agency reimbursement funding through Medicaid.
  • Develop and maintain close liaison with local providers and drug rehabilitation facilities.
  • Chair and direct interdisciplinary teams in the development and evaluation of individualize habilitation, rehabilitation and treatment plans.
  • Coordinate and provide qualitative and quantitative review of all documentation to insure billing accuracy for Medicaid compliance and federal guidelines.
  • Implement process improvements and Medicare department reorganization that establish a foundation for improve member outcomes and satisfaction and increase product margins.
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Program director example responsibilities.

  • Manage personnel performing SAS programming, technical document preparation and quality assurance.
  • Manage program budgets and supervise staff to ensure that immunization and registry activities are successfully implement.
  • Manage direct support professionals serving adult populations for persons with mental health, developmental disabilities and children with autism.
  • Manage day-to-day oversight and management involving planning, programming, execution, distribution, and analysis for assign organizations budgets.
  • Implement client ADL, ISP, and behavior plans in a group home.
  • Organize schedule for swim lessons and kids camp.
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Mental health program manager vs program director skills

Common mental health program manager skills
  • Social Work, 20%
  • Behavioral Health, 9%
  • Mental Health, 9%
  • Substance Abuse, 5%
  • Family Therapy, 4%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
Common program director skills
  • Oversight, 9%
  • Social Work, 6%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Program Management, 5%

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