Manager vs.
Supervisor: What's the
Difference?
Indeed Editorial Team
Updated July 31, 2023
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Managers and supervisors are both positions of leadership in an
organization. Managers typically play a more strategic role in a
company, making decisions, setting goals and overseeing the
success of a team while supervisors are responsible for
administering tasks and ensuring they are done properly and on
time.In this article, we'll explore the roles of both managers and
supervisors and the main differences between these roles.
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What is a manager?
A manager is an individual who makes essential decisions that
affect all areas of business operations. They outline the purpose of
their decision, along with identifying employees and the duties they
need to perform to ensure the completion of tasks. They choose the
amount they need to spend on resources and allocate them to each
department so they can reach their goals.Job duties for managers
may include:
Organizing the company's management structure to
streamline workflow, communication and performance
Collaborating with the human resources department to
identify, interview and hire employees
Instructing employees while following company
guidelines in the employee handbook
Organizing training and professional development
opportunities for all employees to participate in
Evaluating employee performance by using a
performance management system and setting goals for
employees during each quarter
Delegating tasks to employees and giving feedback
regularly on their performance
Providing work schedules to employees and making
adjustments regarding vacation, paid time off and
emergencies
Communicating department information to employees
via one-on-one and team meetings
Read more: What Are the Primary Responsibilities of a Manager?
What is a supervisor?
A supervisor is an individual who makes decisions approved by the
manager. They work alongside employees to ensure that they
perform tasks that align with the goals managers set. These
individuals are the first point of contact if a problem occurs with
employees or customers. They can report it to the manager if they
believe the problem deserves their attention. Supervisors decide if
conflicts deserve the manager's attention if they believe their
actions affect the completion of their goals.Job duties for
supervisors may include:
Creating performance goals and setting deadlines that
match the company's plans
Overseeing workflow to assist employees in knowing
their job responsibilities and delegated duties
Coaching employees by giving them constructive
feedback to help perform certain tasks
Addressing inquiries and complaints from customers
Keeping track of employee's schedules and maintaining
personnel records
Gathering and submitting performance reports to
the department manager
Choosing employees who are eligible for promotions
and bonuses
Helping to train new employees while adhering to
company policies
Read more: What Are the Responsibilities of a Supervisor?
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What are the differences between managers
and supervisors?
The main differences between managers and supervisors are their
level of authority, responsibilities, objectives and pay. Typically,
managers are higher-level, higher-paid leaders in an organization
responsible for strategic planning, goal setting and team
management. Supervisors, on the other hand, are closer to the day-
to-day tasks of their teams to ensure the manager's goals are
achieved.Below, we'll explore the main differences between
managers and supervisors in each of these four categories:
Level of authority
A manager is a higher-ranking employee within a company. A
supervisor reports to the manager about developments related to
products, services and employees working under their direction. A
company might have several supervisors reporting to a manager
depending on its size, and they can promote an employee to become
a supervisor if they excel in their current role.A manager reports to
a department's director, vice president or board of directors. For
example, the director of a department within a grocery store might
speak with the manager to get an update on the status of
operations during a snowstorm.Related: 10 Types of Organizational
Structures
Responsibilities
Supervisors work on the day-to-day tasks to advance the production
of their employees and position the department for success.
Supervisors understand the duties of the employees they work with,
the amount of work they've completed and the impact their
performance has on the organization. Managers might instruct
supervisors to give performance reviews to each employee once
they have given feedback on their performance.Managers meet with
supervisors to discuss the general performance of the department
and its employees. They conduct the performance review of
supervisors that work for them. They expect supervisors to highlight
the department's status by meeting their goals and note problems
that may alter the department's performance. Managers attend
meetings for their company's senior leadership team and oversee
the budget.Related: Supervisor vs. Team Leader: What’s the
Difference?
Objectives
Managers and supervisors have different goals they need to meet. A
supervisor's goals have an internal focus, meaning they coordinate
with employees within their department to make sure they're
finishing their present tasks.The supervisor facilitates the training
of employees, so they know how to perform their job correctly and
decrease the amount of time spent on tasks. For example, a
supervisor working in an IT department can work with an employee
on an issue with their computer. Once the supervisor fixes their
computer, they ask them what tasks they're working and note
shortcuts to help them complete their projects quickly.A manager's
goals have an external focus because they're accountable for the
company's performance outside of one department. An external
focus allows them to understand the progress of their department
without getting involved with the completion of individual tasks.
They set aside time to design a strategy to achieve long-term profits
and sustainability for the company. Managers overview the benefits
and risks of the strategy before sending it to their senior
management team for approval.Here are some example goals for
supervisors to meet:
Enhance employee productivity by 10% next month
Increase employee retention rate by 15% over the next
year
Train three employees and submit a three-month
performance review for each employee
Here are some example goals for managers to achieve:
Finish next year's four-quarter strategy by the end of
next month
Assign three special projects to supervisors by the end
of the week
Adjust the company's budget and resubmit it to senior
management for approval
Related: Management Goals: Definitions and Examples
Salary
Employees with a managerial job title tend to have a higher salary
than a supervisor at a company. Managers have more
responsibilities than supervisors, so they earn higher wages for
their work. Supervisors have a more specialized role with an
organization since they work exclusively with employees within
their department, but they still earn higher salaries than front-line
employees because of their enhanced responsibilities.The average
annual salary of a supervisor in the United States is $55,804 per
year, and the average annual salary of a manager is $55,921 per
year. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click
on the link(s) provided.
Frequently asked questions
Can managers and supervisors have different leadership
styles?
Managers and supervisors may use different leadership
styles based on their personalities, experiences and the
culture of their organization. Some managers may adopt a
more participative and inclusive leadership style, while
others might have a more authoritative or directive
approach. Similarly, supervisors can exhibit various
leadership styles depending on the needs of their teams.
Are there differences in the level of accountability between
managers and supervisors?
Managers and supervisors may have different levels of
accountability within an organization. For instance,
managers might oversee all performance and outcomes of
multiple departments while supervisors often have a
narrower scope of accountability, like day-to-day operations
and their immediate subordinates. While supervisors are still
accountable for their team's performance, a manager has a
wider scope of responsibilities that can extend across
different teams.
Do managers and supervisors handle conflict resolution
differently?
Managers and supervisors may focus their efforts on
different areas of conflict resolution. Managers often handle
conflicts at a higher level, such as resolving
interdepartmental or inter-team conflicts, addressing issues
between managers or making decisions in more complex
situations. Supervisors often resolve conflicts that arise
within their immediate teams, mediating disputes,
facilitating communication and promoting resolution.
