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What does an applications project manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read

In the information technology industry, an applications project manager is primarily in charge of supervising the efforts in managing development projects for applications and systems. Their responsibilities include managing project development teams, setting objectives and guidelines, overseeing budgets and schedules, and developing strategies to optimize project operations. They may also conduct installations, upgrades, modifications, and perform regular maintenance checks, conducting repairs as needed. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

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Applications project manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real applications project manager resumes:

  • Manage development team, technical support team, as well as training, technical writing and QA departments.
  • Manage and develop mini applications for the company's SharePoint intranet system.
  • Manage the training, technical writing and QA departments to effectively deliver user documentation, and business documentation.
  • Lead cross-functional project teams comprise of development, analysis, architecture, quality assurance, implementation, documentation and training resources.
  • Support preparation for ERP migration to a new system.
  • Develop a standard services API customers can use to integrate with MSA's flagship cable television ERP solution (Gabriel).
  • Review business needs and implement SharePoint solutions base on requirements.
  • Adopt waterfall methodology for architecture phase and scrum methodology for core development and releases.
  • Implement changes to multiple interrelate applications due regulatory changes or business enhancements through entire SDLC.
  • Conduct business and data analysis, create, recommend, and implement suggested solutions using SDLC methodology.
  • Lead cross-functional project teams comprise of development, analysis, architecture, quality assurance, implementation, documentation and training resources.
  • Contribute to development of company's methodology for e-business consulting.

Applications project manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 20% of Applications Project Managers are proficient in Project Management, Scrum, and Application Development.

We break down the percentage of Applications Project Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Project Management, 20%

    Provide project management support in implementing accounting policy changes and introducing new mortgage products into Investments & Capital Markets financial applications.

  • Scrum, 6%

    Adopted waterfall methodology for architecture phase and scrum methodology for core development and releases.

  • Application Development, 5%

    Collaborated with business architects, senior developers, application testers, and/or subject matter experts in the development of application development.

  • Project Scope, 5%

    Created procedure to develop higher quality proposals based on specifications, design criteria and project scope.

  • CRM, 4%

    Provided database performance tuning, data integrity, and security administration for internal CRM product.

  • HR, 4%

    Supported HR with sensitive reporting requirements IT Consultant

Most applications project managers use their skills in "project management," "scrum," and "application development" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential applications project manager responsibilities here:

All applications project manager skills

The three companies that hire the most applications project managers are:

Compare different applications project managers

Applications project manager vs. Project leader

A project leader is responsible for supervising the team and managing the distribution of tasks to ensure the project's success with the highest efficiency and accuracy. Duties of a project leader include motivating the team, managing the team's needs and concerns, providing effective strategies to improve the team's performance, creating reports, monitoring the team's progress, and maintaining the coordination between team members. A project leader should have exceptional leadership skills to handle the team's operation and identify areas of improvement to deliver excellent results.

The annual salary of project leaders is $3,067 lower than the average salary of applications project managers.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between applications project managers and project leaders are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like project management, scrum, and application development.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, applications project manager responsibilities require skills like "crm," "web application," "java," and "risk management." Meanwhile a typical project leader has skills in areas such as "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "c++," and "project plan." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Project leaders earn the highest salaries when working in the professional industry, with an average yearly salary of $118,370. On the other hand, applications project managers are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $106,291.On average, project leaders reach similar levels of education than applications project managers. Project leaders are 0.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Applications project manager vs. Manager applications development

An applications development manager is responsible for keeping businesses running smoothly and effectively through planning, coordinating, and overseeing all activities related to software applications. You will oversee the maintenance, upgrade, and support of existing applications and systems required for the smooth day-to-day operations of the business. Other tasks that you will likely perform include providing estimates for project timeline and cost, overseeing feasibility research on software applications, and diagnosing and troubleshooting program errors. As an applications development manager, you are also responsible for recommending software products and services that will benefit the company.

On average, managers applications development earn a $21,901 higher salary than applications project managers a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both applications project managers and managers applications development have skills such as "project management," "scrum," and "application development. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, applications project manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "project scope," "status reports," "risk management," and "process improvement." Meanwhile, a manager applications development has duties that require skills in areas such as "ongoing maintenance," "software development," "architecture," and "infrastructure." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, managers applications development earn a higher salary than applications project managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, managers applications development earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $130,492. Whereas applications project managers have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $106,291.In general, managers applications development achieve similar levels of education than applications project managers. They're 2.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Applications project manager vs. Project manager/scrum master

Project Managers or scrum masters are experienced employees who lead an agile team. They are in charge of managing a specific project in terms of the agile model. They lead the team throughout the planning session, the designing of the project parameters, the development of the processes, the implementation of the project, and the evaluation. They represent the team in meetings with stakeholders. They ensure that the working relationship among all the departments involved is harmonious. They also guide their team members throughout the project.

On average, project managers/scrum master earn lower salaries than applications project managers, with a $6,579 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on applications project managers and project managers/scrum master resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "application development," "project scope," and "sdlc.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from applications project manager resumes include skills like "project management," "scrum," "crm," and "hr," whereas a project manager/scrum master is more likely to list skills in "sprint planning," "jira," "scrum meetings," and "agile scrum. "

Project managers/scrum master earn the best pay in the media industry, where they command an average salary of $99,469. Applications project managers earn the highest pay from the finance industry, with an average salary of $106,291.Most project managers/scrum master achieve a higher degree level compared to applications project managers. For example, they're 8.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Applications project manager vs. Project management lead

A project management lead is in charge of overseeing all processes involved in the planning and delivery of projects in an organization. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating departments and personnel involved in every project to ensure accuracy and timeliness, managing budget and expenditures, producing progress reports and presentations, assessing risks, and delivering optimal quality results. Furthermore, as a management lead, it is crucial to lead and encourage team members, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Project management leads tend to earn a lower pay than applications project managers by an average of $16,509 per year.While both applications project managers and project management leads complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like project management, project scope, and hr, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between applications project managers and project management leads, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an applications project manager might have more use for skills like "scrum," "application development," "crm," and "web application." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of project management leads require skills like "customer service," "portfolio," "plumbing," and "infrastructure. "

The energy industry tends to pay the highest salaries for project management leads, with average annual pay of $108,150. Comparatively, the highest applications project manager annual salary comes from the finance industry.In general, project management leads hold similar degree levels compared to applications project managers. Project management leads are 1.3% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of applications project manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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