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Senior manager vs executive

The differences between senior managers and executives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a senior manager, becoming an executive takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a senior manager has an average salary of $118,906, which is higher than the $108,285 average annual salary of an executive.

The top three skills for a senior manager include analytics, project management and portfolio. The most important skills for an executive are customer service, digital transformation, and healthcare.

Senior manager vs executive overview

Senior ManagerExecutive
Yearly salary$118,906$108,285
Hourly rate$57.17$52.06
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs372,80183,869
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4452
Years of experience6-

What does a senior manager do?

A senior manager is responsible for directing the overall efficiency of business operations. Senior managers monitor the performance of the staff, improve operational strategies, identify business opportunities, allocate budgets and resources, present reports to senior management, set goals to drive results on increasing the company's revenues and profitability. Senior managers must coordinate with various operations departments to maintain good feedback for the company, meeting client's expectations, and delivering the best results. They should have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle team members, as well as managing their needs and concerns.

What does an executive do?

An Executive's responsibilities vary depending on an organization or company. However, most of the time, it involves a great deal of leadership and communication. An Executive must oversee and direct employees towards particular sets of goals and vision, create strategies and plans that will benefit the company's financial gains and workforce, and as well as evaluate and analyze the progress of various company departments. Moreover, an Executive holds the power of decision-making, such as in the aspects of budget, promotions, and policies.

Senior manager vs executive salary

Senior managers and executives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior ManagerExecutive
Average salary$118,906$108,285
Salary rangeBetween $86,000 And $163,000Between $63,000 And $184,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAProvidence, RI
Highest paying stateNew JerseyRhode Island
Best paying companyCornerstone ResearchCapgemini
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between senior manager and executive education

There are a few differences between a senior manager and an executive in terms of educational background:

Senior ManagerExecutive
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior manager vs executive demographics

Here are the differences between senior managers' and executives' demographics:

Senior ManagerExecutive
Average age4452
Gender ratioMale, 67.5% Female, 32.5%Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 7.6% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%12%

Differences between senior manager and executive duties and responsibilities

Senior manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead ISO project to achieve ISO compliance for the organization.
  • Implement a PeopleSoft Financials system and lead the integration team.
  • Manage the VMS, UNIX and NT operating systems and hardware.
  • Manage multiple trading application development and integration projects for TT's API customers.
  • Work with internal and external audit to manage SOX controls testing, compliance issues and corrective actions.
  • Coordinate and manage the monthly and quarterly close process, including quarterly check list for SOX compliance.
  • Show more

Executive example responsibilities.

  • Manage capital investments and operating costs to generate ROI, IRR and cash flow.
  • Facilitate KPI dashboard for actual performance to forecast/targets and drive action plans to achieve them.
  • Manage reputation for search engine optimization, and reputation of website and business as a whole through SEO.
  • Manage several multi-phase DoD programs and projects simultaneously.
  • Manage events for fundraising, donor recognition and alumni relations.
  • Delegate & execute human resources, payroll management, marketing/sales techniques training & development.
  • Show more

Senior manager vs executive skills

Common senior manager skills
  • Analytics, 9%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Portfolio, 5%
  • Business Development, 4%
  • Professional Development, 4%
  • Healthcare, 3%
Common executive skills
  • Customer Service, 20%
  • Digital Transformation, 15%
  • Healthcare, 10%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 8%
  • Financial Statements, 5%
  • Business Development, 4%

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