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The differences between program directors and program administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a program director, becoming a program administrator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a program director has an average salary of $80,664, which is higher than the $50,715 average annual salary of a program administrator.
The top three skills for a program director include oversight, social work and patients. The most important skills for a program administrator are customer service, oversight, and patients.
| Program Director | Program Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $80,664 | $50,715 |
| Hourly rate | $38.78 | $24.38 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 82,810 | 119,898 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Program directors are employees who oversee all aspects of a specific program in the company. They usually work in nonprofit organizations or are assigned to a department doing corporate social responsibility activities. Program directors ensure that the program is in line with the company's goals. They also ensure that the resources assigned to the program are properly managed and that all finances are accounted for. They create strategies to ensure the success of the program and communicate these to everyone involved. They lead the implementation and evaluation of the program.
Program administrators are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating their organization's program or service. Their duties and responsibilities may vary depending on the industry they work at, such as educational, community, and social services. Among these duties are selecting and supervising the staff to manage a certain program or project, managing the program's budget, and evaluating the success of a program. To become successful in this role, a program administrator must have in-depth knowledge of project management disciplines, leadership skills, and decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Program directors and program administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Director | Program Administrator | |
| Average salary | $80,664 | $50,715 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $129,000 | Between $34,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Georgia | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a program director and a program administrator in terms of educational background:
| Program Director | Program Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between program directors' and program administrators' demographics:
| Program Director | Program Administrator | |
| Average age | 40 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 9% |