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The differences between vice presidents 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 vice president, becoming an executive director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a vice president has an average salary of $158,637, which is higher than the $127,956 average annual salary of an executive director.
The top three skills for a vice president include healthcare, oversight and project management. The most important skills for an executive director are oversight, patients, and customer service.
| Vice President | Executive Director | |
| Yearly salary | $158,637 | $127,956 |
| Hourly rate | $76.27 | $61.52 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 119,530 | 97,471 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 52 | 49 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Vice presidents are usually considered the second-in-command in the organization, depending on the organization structure. They take over when the president is unavailable to fulfill duties. They may also represent the organization in external events and other official functions. They are important members of the boardroom, and their opinions are usually sought after as well. Vice presidents are usually poised to follow the president's footsteps in the organization, especially if the president is nearing retirement. They also make urgent and crucial decisions when the president is not available to do so. Vice presidents must have strong business acumen, decision-making skills, and professionalism.
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.
Vice presidents and executive directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vice President | Executive Director | |
| Average salary | $158,637 | $127,956 |
| Salary range | Between $107,000 And $235,000 | Between $76,000 And $213,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Brookfield Properties | Genentech |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a vice president and an executive director in terms of educational background:
| Vice President | Executive Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between vice presidents' and executive directors' demographics:
| Vice President | Executive Director | |
| Average age | 52 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.8% Female, 34.2% | 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% |