Public works director vs executive director

The differences between public works directors and executive directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a public works director, becoming an executive director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an executive director has an average salary of $127,956, which is higher than the $88,965 average annual salary of a public works director.

The top three skills for a public works director include public works, infrastructure and building maintenance. The most important skills for an executive director are oversight, patients, and customer service.

Public works director vs executive director overview

	Public Works Director	Executive Director
Yearly salary	$88,965	$127,956
Hourly rate	$42.77	$61.52
Growth rate	6%	-8%
Number of jobs	14,361	97,471
Job satisfaction	-	4.5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	52	49
Years of experience	-	4

What does a public works director do?

Public Works Directors can expect an average salary of $70K per year in a career that will demand strong communication skills, planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Also, strong leadership will be a must for implementing and recommending alternative courses of action for administrative problems. This career choice requires a bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, liberal arts, or law and presents responsibilities such as daily maintenance of a city's infrastructure services, such as sewer, sanitation, or street maintenance, as well as sanitary sewer operations.

What does an executive director do?

Executive directors are top management employees who usually function as a chief executive officer. This role is usually seen in non-profit organizations. Executive directors provide strategic direction to the organization, and they ensure that the organization's goals are actualized. They provide guidance to the employees and ensure that the employees have the organization's advocacies at the center of every project or program. They oversee the policies of the organization and create strategies that will bring the organization's programs forward. Executive directors are also responsible for making crucial decisions for the betterment of the organization.

Public works director vs executive director salary

Public works directors and executive directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Public Works Director	Executive Director
Average salary	$88,965	$127,956
Salary range	Between $58,000 And $134,000	Between $76,000 And $213,000
Highest paying City	San Rafael, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	California	New York
Best paying company	Icma-rc	Genentech
Best paying industry	Government	Finance

Differences between public works director and executive director education

There are a few differences between a public works director and an executive director in terms of educational background:

	Public Works Director	Executive Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Civil Engineering	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Public works director vs executive director demographics

Here are the differences between public works directors' and executive directors' demographics:

	Public Works Director	Executive Director
Average age	52	49
Gender ratio	Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6%	Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 7.5% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	10%

Differences between public works director and executive director duties and responsibilities

Public works director example responsibilities.

Manage key controls, CCTV, safety devices, and training activities.
Conceptualise, initiate & independently manage innovative after-school & lunch programs, and innovative successful school fundraiser.
Manage, delegate and perform facility repairs, apartment renovations, preventive maintenance and inventory control utilizing CMMS program for maintenance.
Provide management oversight of safety and training programs, ensure quality management certification and OSHA standards are maintain.
Complete all EPA require monthly testing.
Help with on air promotions and giveaways.

Executive director example responsibilities.

Manage 10 department heads who supervise a staff of 350 FTE's.
Develop and manage sales teams to assure the highest ROI on the client's investment.
Create and manage a call center for lead programs to support the prospecting activity needs of the FSR.
Freelance blogging to increase website views and ultimately to turn organic content into leads and ROI for small businesses.
Market and manage group and individual insurance programs including health, life, disability, long term care and annuities.
Major accomplishment are to achieve initial NAEYC accreditation.

Public works director vs executive director skills

Common public works director skills

Public Works, 12%
Infrastructure, 10%
Building Maintenance, 8%
Oversight, 6%
Project Management, 6%
Storm Water, 4%

Common executive director skills

Oversight, 10%
Patients, 9%
Customer Service, 5%
Financial Management, 5%
Business Development, 4%
Home Health, 4%

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Public Works Director
Public Works Director vs Executive Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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