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The differences between production managers and managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a production manager, becoming a manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a production manager has an average salary of $78,064, which is higher than the $58,651 average annual salary of a manager.
The top three skills for a production manager include continuous improvement, customer service and quality standards. The most important skills for a manager are customer service, payroll, and food safety.
| Production Manager | Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $78,064 | $58,651 |
| Hourly rate | $37.53 | $28.20 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 95,561 | 1,236,194 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.57 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Production managers work in show business, whether in film, television shows, or theatre productions. They oversee the whole production and ensure that all agreements are met. They manage finances and budget allocation. They oversee the design of costumes and sets. They also manage the timeline of filming and ensure that the production or filming will finish within the agreed timeline. Production managers also ensure that all stakeholders are satisfied. They build meaningful working relationships with everyone involved, from directors to actors to crew members. They try to mitigate any potential challenges in the production budget and schedule.
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.
Production managers and managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Production Manager | Manager | |
| Average salary | $78,064 | $58,651 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $120,000 | Between $37,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a production manager and a manager in terms of educational background:
| Production Manager | Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between production managers' and managers' demographics:
| Production Manager | Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% | Male, 51.0% Female, 49.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 10% |