Find a Job You Really Want In
As both supervisors and managers have managerial roles, you may be wondering: what’s the difference between the two? Are the terms interchangeable?
The short answer is: no, supervisors and managers aren’t the same. The exact differences between them are going to depend on where you work and the exact nature of their duties. However, there are some general, agreed-upon differences in the business world.
As a rule, supervisors are in the trenches, doing the same work as the other members of the team. They oversee what’s going on in their team and implement the manager’s and the company’s policies. Managers do little of the actual work being done, as they’re too busy managing and making sure that the whole of the project is coming together.
Key Takeaways:
| Supervisor | Manager |
|---|---|
| Supervisors usually have direct experience doing the task that they’re overseeing. | Managers often have experience in the job being done, but it isn’t a requirement. |
| Roughly 50% of supervisors have a bachelor’s degree or higher. | Almost 60% of managers have a bachelor’s degree or higher. |
| As a rule, supervisors are much more hands-on. It’s not uncommon for them to also work on the project itself, though less so than the other employees. | A manager’s role is typically removed from the project at hand. Managers are required to make sure that the different parts come together properly, so they’re too busy managing to work on the project itself. |
| Supervisors average about $47,000 per year. | Managers average about $73,000 per year. |
What Is a Supervisor?
A supervisor is typically an experienced employee that has been promoted to run a team. While supervisors are sometimes pulled from outside, it’s less likely, as their role requires them to have a good understanding of the work being done and how goals are set and achieved.
While supervisors do managerial duties, it’s generally on a smaller scale. They work more closely with the team to make sure that day-to-day goals are being met. They’re also the ones who deal with injuries on the job and any customer complaints (depending on the job they’re doing.)
Supervisors typically report to a manager. It’s a supervisor’s job to advocate for their people and to make sure that they have the supplies they need to get the job done.
What Is a Manager?
Someone in the role of a manager is usually more removed from the day-to-day work on a project. Their goals are more overarching in terms of the company.
A manager usually oversees several different supervisors and teams and has to do the work of fitting them together. That’s especially true of a project manager, who oversees the various parts of a project and has to make sure that they’ll fit together in the end.
Many managers will want status reports from supervisors so that they can see how the various departments are doing and if they’re meeting their goals. They’re responsible for making sure that the supervisors get the resources that their team needs and that different department are able to work together when needed.
Managers are extremely likely to have at least a bachelor’s degree, with almost half of them holding one. Another 7% have a master’s. It is possible to become a manager with a GED, but the path will be a lot harder. This, of course, is also dependent on the field you work in – there are some that aren’t possible to get into without a degree.
Tips for Becoming a Supervisor
If you want to become a supervisor, here are some things to consider:
-
Supervisors usually work their way up from the bottom to end up in a supervisory position. So start off in your field of choice and build up experience.
-
A bachelor’s degree is recommended if you want to be a supervisor, but that will be largely dependent on the field you’re working in.
-
Make an effort to understand different pieces of the project. You don’t need to be an expert on every part, but if you want to supervise a team, you need to know the basics of what everyone’s doing.
-
All management is about dealing with people and working out the best way to bring out their best. If you don’t like working with others, a supervisory role may not suit you.
Tips for Becoming a Manager
If you’re interested in going into management, here are some things to consider.
-
Managers are all about the macro. They’re interested in the bigger picture and how the different pieces come together.
-
While Zippia’s statistics show that about 60% of managers have a bachelor’s degree, it’s likely higher than that, as some roles that are really supervisors are labeled as managers – such as in retail. If you want to be a manager, a degree in something like business management is an excellent choice.
-
Managers deal in resources and time management and are required to think on their feet. If part of a project isn’t coming together on the right timeline, you have to be able to make adjustments to it.
-
Most of a manager’s job is planning and communications. If run properly, managers should spend all of their time managing, as it’s impossible to be effective both managing and working on the project.
Supervisor vs. Manager FAQ
-
Is the role of a supervisor higher than a manager?
No, a manager is considered a higher-level role than a supervisor. Supervisors usually work directly with the people who are working on a piece of a project, while managers oversee the entirety of a project.
-
Are managers and supervisors the same thing?
No, manager and supervisors aren’t the same roles. While both managers and supervisors oversee other employees and work with time management and resources, a supervisor is more on a micro level while the manager is on the macro level.
-
What’s the salary difference between a supervisor and a manager?
The salary difference between a supervisor and a manager is about $26,000 annually.
Of course, this is in many ways just an estimate, as your salary will hugely depend on what you’re managing or supervising, your level of experience, and the field you’re working in. But, as you can see, managers make a fair bit more money than supervisors on average.
Author
Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
