Practice manager vs operations manager

The differences between practice managers and operations 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 practice manager and an operations manager. Additionally, a practice manager has an average salary of $107,374, which is higher than the $76,894 average annual salary of an operations manager.

The top three skills for a practice manager include patients, patient care and customer service. The most important skills for an operations manager are customer service, logistics, and continuous improvement.

Practice manager vs operations manager overview

	Practice Manager	Operations Manager
Yearly salary	$107,374	$76,894
Hourly rate	$51.62	$36.97
Growth rate	28%	6%
Number of jobs	38,196	343,868
Job satisfaction	4	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	47	44
Years of experience	6	6

What does a practice manager do?

A practice manager is responsible for supervising daily operations, especially on the side of the medical industry. Practice managers monitor staffing needs, train new employees, and evaluate the employees' productivity and performance. They also enforce strict guidelines and procedures, ensuring that the processes adhere to the legal standards and regulatory requirements. Practice managers also maintain budget goals, creating cost estimates and expense reports. A practice manager must have strong communication, analytical, and critical-thinking skills, as well as comprehensive knowledge of the medical industry practices.

What does an operations manager do?

Operations managers are in charge of running the main business of the organization. They ensure that the business is running smoothly from an operations standpoint. They make sure that the processes in place produce the necessary output by implementing quality control measures. They also manage finances and ensure that there is enough budget to keep the operations of the business running. They also ensure that the production of goods or services is cost-efficient. Operations managers also handle people-related concerns. They are responsible for interviewing candidates, choosing the ones to hire, and ensuring that individuals assigned to operations are properly trained.

Practice manager vs operations manager salary

Practice managers and operations managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Practice Manager	Operations Manager
Average salary	$107,374	$76,894
Salary range	Between $65,000 And $175,000	Between $47,000 And $123,000
Highest paying City	Providence, RI	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Rhode Island	Delaware
Best paying company	Davis Wright Tremaine	McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between practice manager and operations manager education

There are a few differences between a practice manager and an operations manager in terms of educational background:

	Practice Manager	Operations Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Practice manager vs operations manager demographics

Here are the differences between practice managers' and operations managers' demographics:

	Practice Manager	Operations Manager
Average age	47	44
Gender ratio	Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7%	Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.9% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	12%	10%

Differences between practice manager and operations manager duties and responsibilities

Practice manager example responsibilities.

Secure new engagements worldwide, and lead numerous ERP and CRM initiatives.
Manage a great team of 7 consultants that deliver outstanding ERP solutions.
Supervise and manage a staff of 12.5 FTE personnel and 4 FTE physicians.
Accomplish at applying knowledge of veterinary science and compassion for animals to ensure optimal care.
Manage all aspects of establishing, setting and implementing standards and work processes to ensure well running PMO.
Manage the selection process and implementation of the practice's EMR by reviewing and updating the system as needed.

Operations manager example responsibilities.

Manage and lead operations that include performance management, organizational development, employment compliance, employee relations, payroll management.
Manage 2HVAC system retrofit replacement teams.
Manage all invoices, A/P, A/R and other accounting duties.
Manage computer operation teams supporting propriety and DoD programs at the Lewisville site.
Manage 45 person division and day to day operations of scheduling, communications, A/R, A/P and customer care.
Manage the export booking and documentation department ensuring smooth on-time delivery.

Practice manager vs operations manager skills

Common practice manager skills

Patients, 17%
Patient Care, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
PET, 5%
Practice Management, 4%
Payroll, 3%

Common operations manager skills

Customer Service, 23%
Logistics, 7%
Continuous Improvement, 6%
Payroll, 5%
Project Management, 4%
Process Improvement, 4%

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Practice Manager
Practice Manager vs Operations Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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