Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between plant managers and executive assistant/office managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a plant manager, becoming an executive assistant/office manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a plant manager has an average salary of $113,843, which is higher than the $59,405 average annual salary of an executive assistant/office manager.
The top three skills for a plant manager include continuous improvement, customer service and safety program. The most important skills for an executive assistant/office manager are customer service, financial reports, and office equipment.
| Plant Manager | Executive Assistant/Office Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $113,843 | $59,405 |
| Hourly rate | $54.73 | $28.56 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 275,962 | 119,266 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 44 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
In general, plant managers are responsible for the entire operations in a manufacturing plant. Plant managers plan, direct, organize, and run the optimum operations of the plant daily. They create and execute organizational or departmental goals procedures, and policies. They aim to increase the manufacturing production and the capacity and flexibility of its assets while keeping its current quality standards and unnecessary costs. They are expected to have a better understanding of the manufacturing industry like equipment use and mechanical aptitude.
An executive assistant/office manager specializes in administrative support tasks within an office or an organization. One of their primary responsibilities includes assisting the director or head of an office by responding to calls and inquiries, handling correspondence, arranging appointments and meetings, managing schedules, and reporting necessary updates. They must also monitor inventory and procure necessary supplies, process documentation, and perform other tasks to support staff. Furthermore, an executive assistant/office manager may take part in the preparations and approval of the payroll, budget, and other necessary databases concerning employees and departments.
Plant managers and executive assistant/office managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Manager | Executive Assistant/Office Manager | |
| Average salary | $113,843 | $59,405 |
| Salary range | Between $85,000 And $152,000 | Between $39,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Real Estate |
There are a few differences between a plant manager and an executive assistant/office manager in terms of educational background:
| Plant Manager | Executive Assistant/Office Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between plant managers' and executive assistant/office managers' demographics:
| Plant Manager | Executive Assistant/Office Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% | Male, 11.9% Female, 88.1% |
| 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |