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The differences between plant managers and unit managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a plant manager and a unit manager. Additionally, a plant manager has an average salary of $113,843, which is higher than the $60,561 average annual salary of a unit manager.
The top three skills for a plant manager include continuous improvement, customer service and safety program. The most important skills for a unit manager are quality care, patients, and federal regulations.
| Plant Manager | Unit Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $113,843 | $60,561 |
| Hourly rate | $54.73 | $29.12 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 275,962 | 366,932 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
Unit managers are responsible for managing the nursing unit. They primarily supervise the daily care of patients and ensure quality patient care. Usually, they perform tasks like evaluating staff performance, conducting orientation for new staff, and training new members. Also, they manage schedules, minimize expenditures, and enforce health as well as safety regulations. Unit managers are registered nursing professionals with an undergraduate or graduate degree. They are honest, adaptable, and analytical professionals with strong management and leadership skills and relevant experience in nursing and patient assessment.
Plant managers and unit managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Manager | Unit Manager | |
| Average salary | $113,843 | $60,561 |
| Salary range | Between $85,000 And $152,000 | Between $38,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a plant manager and a unit manager in terms of educational background:
| Plant Manager | Unit Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between plant managers' and unit managers' demographics:
| Plant Manager | Unit Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |