Post job

Section chief vs division chief

The differences between section chiefs and division chiefs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a section chief, becoming a division chief takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a division chief has an average salary of $86,913, which is higher than the $78,816 average annual salary of a section chief.

The top three skills for a section chief include safety procedures, training programs and professional development. The most important skills for a division chief are oversight, rehabilitation, and human resources.

Section chief vs division chief overview

Section ChiefDivision Chief
Yearly salary$78,816$86,913
Hourly rate$37.89$41.79
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs13,65514,138
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4944
Years of experience46

What does a section chief do?

A section chief's job varies with the type of organization. In most cases, a section chief is the head of a given section in an organization that is tasked with performing certain duties. A section chief is the head of a unit and provides leadership, motivation, and management of a section of employees. Their duties and responsibilities include reviewing and overseeing budgets, expenditure, and section activities.

What does a division chief do?

Division chiefs are professionals who are responsible for leading and managing subordinates of a particular division of a department. These chiefs are required to conduct administrative and personnel transactions as well as review their legislation and technical program activities. In the military, division chiefs are required to supervise military personnel while implementing military personnel management operations within the command. Division chiefs must also organize training programs to ensure the skill, technical, and professional development of all marines.

Section chief vs division chief salary

Section chiefs and division chiefs have different pay scales, as shown below.

Section ChiefDivision Chief
Average salary$78,816$86,913
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $163,000Between $37,000 And $203,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCOlympia, WA
Highest paying stateNew YorkWashington
Best paying companyLearjetConnecticut Children's Medical Center
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between section chief and division chief education

There are a few differences between a section chief and a division chief in terms of educational background:

Section ChiefDivision Chief
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at AlfredUniversity of Pennsylvania

Section chief vs division chief demographics

Here are the differences between section chiefs' and division chiefs' demographics:

Section ChiefDivision Chief
Average age4944
Gender ratioMale, 88.4% Female, 11.6%Male, 83.5% Female, 16.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage4%10%

Differences between section chief and division chief duties and responsibilities

Section chief example responsibilities.

  • Manage sortie production on 17 USAF E-8C aircraft worth $6.2 billion.
  • Manage HAZMAT accumulation storage points and documentation.
  • Manage training time effectively ensuring employees have every opportunity to learn necessary skills to succeed in a combat environment.
  • Assist in planning, implementing and administering educational training that enhance performance in combat operations for soldiers to accomplish every mission.
  • Provide leadership and knowledge of federal shipping and logistics regulations by managing adherence to all policies and procedures from higher headquarters.
  • Complete HAZMAT transport course and establish on-site certifying capability.
  • Show more

Division chief example responsibilities.

  • Protect valuable banking, insurance and healthcare customer relationships while managing client global communication needs and adhering to regulatory compliance standards.
  • Provide oversight to investigations as required, to include record searches, interviews and automate information retrieval.
  • Re-Envision and realign important strategic relationships among DOD senior leadership to ensure unify communications and decision making.
  • Provide oversight on all policies pertaining to organizational safety, instructor certification program, and special recognition programs.
  • Research and develop country cooperation plan to facilitate partnerships and ensure efforts are synchronized with other DoD agencies.
  • Protect valuable banking, insurance and healthcare customer relationships while managing client global communication needs and adhering to regulatory compliance standards.
  • Show more

Section chief vs division chief skills

Common section chief skills
  • Safety Procedures, 22%
  • Training Programs, 9%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Logistical Support, 6%
  • Combat, 6%
  • Corrective Action, 5%
Common division chief skills
  • Oversight, 24%
  • Rehabilitation, 10%
  • Human Resources, 9%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Training Programs, 5%
  • Logistical Support, 5%

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs