Section manager vs operations project manager

The differences between section managers and operations project 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 section manager and an operations project manager. Additionally, a section manager has an average salary of $95,857, which is higher than the $90,352 average annual salary of an operations project manager.

The top three skills for a section manager include career development, project management and DOD. The most important skills for an operations project manager are project management, business operations, and risk management.

Section manager vs operations project manager overview

	Section Manager	Operations Project Manager
Yearly salary	$95,857	$90,352
Hourly rate	$46.09	$43.44
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	293,821	210,582
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	6	6

What does a section manager do?

A section manager is responsible for supervising the overall production processes and operations of an organization. Section managers ensure that their designated sections run accurately and efficiently while following the highest standard protocols and internal regulations. They also identify opportunities to maximize the staff's productivity and perform quality control procedures that would enhance the current processes and fix any inconsistencies. A section manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to assist the staff and the business in achieving customer satisfaction.

What does an operations project manager do?

An operations project manager is responsible for monitoring the performance of the project team, ensuring that the operations meet the clients' standards and internal regulations with maximum productivity and efficiency. Operations project managers manage the department's budget and allocate materials and resources accurately, maintaining a record of expenses and costs forecasting. They coordinate with the clients, discussing project adjustments or additional tasks as needed, and lead project execution and deliverables by determining the team's needs and concerns, and enforcing strategic procedures.

Section manager vs operations project manager salary

Section managers and operations project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Section Manager	Operations Project Manager
Average salary	$95,857	$90,352
Salary range	Between $63,000 And $145,000	Between $66,000 And $122,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Rhode Island	Connecticut
Best paying company	NVIDIA	Meta
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between section manager and operations project manager education

There are a few differences between a section manager and an operations project manager in terms of educational background:

	Section Manager	Operations Project Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Section manager vs operations project manager demographics

Here are the differences between section managers' and operations project managers' demographics:

	Section Manager	Operations Project Manager
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9%	Male, 68.7% Female, 31.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between section manager and operations project manager duties and responsibilities

Section manager example responsibilities.

Implement ISO quality procedures and lead internal audits
Coordinate and manage the security operations of combat convoys moving and transporting equipment to different locations across hostile areas.
Manage payroll distribution process ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and confidentiality to protect client's privacy and prevent liability of exposure.
Perform contract negotiations, vendor selection, product introduction, ISO quality adherence, cost reductions, and inventory balancing.
Perform ongoing research and analysis of internal business requirements and project logistics.
Plan and request signal logistics support for battalion level operations and maintenance.

Operations project manager example responsibilities.

Manage resource allocation to help maximize ROI and focus on the division's strategy.
Manage operational programs that include the introduction and preparation for the manufacture of new products, design enhancements and OEM deviations.
Manage elaborate software implementation projects relate to national convenience store/gas station point of sale (POS) technology.
Manage payroll distribution process ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and confidentiality to protect client's privacy and prevent liability of exposure.
Reduce emergency department length of stay: participants reduce time to admit patients by 90 minutes.
Assist with providing best practices for the PMO base on previous positions that include PMO set up and interaction.

Section manager vs operations project manager skills

Common section manager skills

Career Development, 9%
Project Management, 9%
DOD, 6%
Performance Reviews, 6%
Continuous Improvement, 5%
RF, 4%

Common operations project manager skills

Project Management, 20%
Business Operations, 6%
Risk Management, 5%
Process Improvement, 4%
Business Process, 4%
Provide Management, 4%

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Section Manager
Section Manager vs Operations Project Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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