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Public health director vs health services manager

The differences between public health directors and health services 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 public health director and a health services manager. Additionally, a public health director has an average salary of $85,569, which is higher than the $84,568 average annual salary of a health services manager.

The top three skills for a public health director include community health, public health and public health programs. The most important skills for a health services manager are patients, behavioral health, and mental health.

Public health director vs health services manager overview

Public Health DirectorHealth Services Manager
Yearly salary$85,569$84,568
Hourly rate$41.14$40.66
Growth rate28%28%
Number of jobs75,124162,609
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4747
Years of experience66

What does a public health director do?

Public affairs specialists, also called media or communication specialists, are responsible for communicating with the public on behalf of an individual, company, government, or politicians. This role will require you to perform various tasks including creating press kit materials, such as images, press releases, and pitch letters for media outlets, maintaining the reputation and identity of the client or employer, and evaluating clients' public opinion through polls, social media listening, and surveys. In addition, public affairs specialists are responsible for evaluating promotional and advertising programs.

What does a health services manager do?

A health services manager is responsible for monitoring the medical services and policies of a healthcare institution, ensuring that the medical team provides the highest quality care services for the patients. Health services managers supervise daily operations, resolving complaints, facilitating health programs, and training new staff. They handle departmental budgets and allocate adequate resources to support medical procedures. A health services manager also inspects the quality of medical tools and equipment and schedule regular maintenance to guarantee efficiency and avoid potential hazards and delays.

Public health director vs health services manager salary

Public health directors and health services managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Public Health DirectorHealth Services Manager
Average salary$85,569$84,568
Salary rangeBetween $55,000 And $131,000Between $56,000 And $127,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MANew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew HampshireDelaware
Best paying companyJefferson County Health CenterGenentech
Best paying industryNon ProfitsHealth Care

Differences between public health director and health services manager education

There are a few differences between a public health director and a health services manager in terms of educational background:

Public Health DirectorHealth Services Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborUniversity of Pennsylvania

Public health director vs health services manager demographics

Here are the differences between public health directors' and health services managers' demographics:

Public Health DirectorHealth Services Manager
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 37.8% Female, 62.2%Male, 31.2% Female, 68.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 7.7% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 8.2% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between public health director and health services manager duties and responsibilities

Public health director example responsibilities.

  • Manage multiple patients, assessing ability to continue living independently or moving to higher acuity care.
  • Provide continuing medical education with HIV and TB specialists on the prevention and control of HIV and TB.
  • Provide oversight for communicable disease surveillance, investigation and control, epidemiology, and emergency preparedness.
  • Position demand expertise in grant oversight, strategic project planning, program management, and stakeholder collaboration.
  • Provide clinical exercise physiology services and health/wellness counseling for family practice/sports medicine/orthopedics medical group effecting positive lifestyle changes in patients serve.
  • Conduct and implement group WIC orientation emphasizing WIC benefits.

Health services manager example responsibilities.

  • Initiate sentinel system allowing company to proactively manage reimbursement reductions impose by state Medicaid programs.
  • Possess the ability to work in a fast-pace environment with compassion and respect for all patients and family members.
  • Assist in the design and reconstruction of the culinary department.
  • File member's medical data in proper medical jacket, per HIPAA regulations.
  • Audit adjudication process so that compliance are met within ERISA and HIPAA guidelines.
  • Assist other facilities in preparation for ACA accreditation and develop departmental audit tools to ensure compliance in all areas.
  • Show more

Public health director vs health services manager skills

Common public health director skills
  • Community Health, 15%
  • Public Health, 10%
  • Public Health Programs, 8%
  • Public Health Issues, 6%
  • Health Education, 5%
  • Medicaid, 5%
Common health services manager skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Behavioral Health, 9%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Health Services, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Social Work, 5%

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