Program supervisor vs assistant program director

The differences between program supervisors and assistant program directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a program supervisor and an assistant program director. Additionally, an assistant program director has an average salary of $51,138, which is higher than the $45,460 average annual salary of a program supervisor.

The top three skills for a program supervisor include autism, social work and developmental disabilities. The most important skills for an assistant program director are mental health, oversight, and social work.

Program supervisor vs assistant program director overview

	Program Supervisor	Assistant Program Director
Yearly salary	$45,460	$51,138
Hourly rate	$21.86	$24.59
Growth rate	8%	8%
Number of jobs	65,551	77,761
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	6	6

What does a program supervisor do?

A program supervisor is an individual who coordinates and monitors the scheduling and technical performance of company programs. Program supervisors aid in negotiating contracts and are responsible for any contractual changes. They recommend changes to the plans to improve process efficiency and develop solutions to any program problems. Program supervisors work under a manager's supervision and the role requires a bachelor's degree with relevant job experience. They are also independent at the same time and can collaborate with other staff members.

What does an assistant program director do?

An assistant program director is responsible for assisting the program director in organizing events and outreach services to support the organization's business functions and operations. Assistant program directors coordinate with other institutions, suppliers, and third-party vendors to deliver the program goals and objectives successfully. They also perform administrative and clerical duties as needed, delegating tasks, and ensuring that the program stays within the budget goals. An assistant program director must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on allocating resources and creating reports regarding the project's progress.

Program supervisor vs assistant program director salary

Program supervisors and assistant program directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Program Supervisor	Assistant Program Director
Average salary	$45,460	$51,138
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $54,000	Between $28,000 And $93,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	California	New York
Best paying company	Sephora	Southeastern Lifestyle Fitness Center Lumberton
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between program supervisor and assistant program director education

There are a few differences between a program supervisor and an assistant program director in terms of educational background:

	Program Supervisor	Assistant Program Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	SUNY at Binghamton	Northwestern University

Program supervisor vs assistant program director demographics

Here are the differences between program supervisors' and assistant program directors' demographics:

	Program Supervisor	Assistant Program Director
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0%	Male, 41.3% Female, 58.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	14%	14%

Differences between program supervisor and assistant program director duties and responsibilities

Program supervisor example responsibilities.

Conduct daily clinical documentation audits, manage consumer financial accounts, provide oversight and approval for all treatment and discharge planning.
MAP (medication administration), first aid, and CPR certify.
Train staff on CPR first aid.
Maintain state compliance (HIPAA, HUD, DDS, and Medicaid).
Develop curriculum for kids classes and adult classes.
Update and maintain timekeeping system with employee files.

Assistant program director example responsibilities.

Manage direct support professionals serving adult populations for persons with mental health, developmental disabilities and children with autism.
Provide direct oversight of all program operations to ensure contract compliance, revenue enhancement, program development and quality assurance.
Perform first aid and CPR when necessary
Direct training classes for aides to become CPR certify.
Organize enrichment programs to service working families including a supplementary kindergarten and after-school care program.
Provide quality management oversight, auditing records to ensure regulatory compliance and the provision of quality services.

Program supervisor vs assistant program director skills

Common program supervisor skills

Autism, 8%
Social Work, 7%
Developmental Disabilities, 7%
Mental Health, 7%
Work Ethic, 7%
Oversight, 6%

Common assistant program director skills

Mental Health, 8%
Oversight, 8%
Social Work, 7%
CPR, 7%
Professional Development, 5%
Alumni, 5%

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Program Supervisor vs Assistant Program Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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