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The differences between professional development directors and development & program managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a professional development director, becoming a development & program manager takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a development & program manager has an average salary of $102,824, which is higher than the $100,545 average annual salary of a professional development director.
The top three skills for a professional development director include professional development, oversight and adult learning. The most important skills for a development & program manager are professional development, project management, and program management.
| Professional Development Director | Development & Program Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $100,545 | $102,824 |
| Hourly rate | $48.34 | $49.43 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 103,723 | 186,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 10 |
A professional development director spearheads and develops training services and professional development programs to enhance the skills and abilities of employees in a company, paving the way for career growth. They have the responsibility to set goals and objectives, establish guidelines and timelines, coordinate teams and managers, liaise with external agencies, and oversee procedures from planning to execution. Moreover, as a professional development director, it is essential to lead staff while implementing policies and regulations, developing new ones as needed.
The responsibilities of a development and program manager depend on one's place or industry of employment. Typically, they are in charge of overseeing the operations behind various projects and programs, ensuring everything is running smoothly and efficiently. They must also devise new strategies to improve workforce performance and services, identify new opportunities for profit growth, and determine the needs of clients. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the team in the joint effort to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Professional development directors and development & program managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professional Development Director | Development & Program Manager | |
| Average salary | $100,545 | $102,824 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $216,000 | Between $76,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Baker McKenzie | Foundation Medicine |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a professional development director and a development & program manager in terms of educational background:
| Professional Development Director | Development & Program Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between professional development directors' and development & program managers' demographics:
| Professional Development Director | Development & Program Manager | |
| Average age | 45 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.2% Female, 65.8% | Male, 58.3% Female, 41.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 4.1% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 18% | 10% |