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Change manager vs application manager

The differences between change managers and application managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a change manager and an application manager. Additionally, an application manager has an average salary of $122,748, which is higher than the $96,652 average annual salary of a change manager.

The top three skills for a change manager include project management, organizational change management and portfolio. The most important skills for an application manager are customer service, project management, and application development.

Change manager vs application manager overview

Change ManagerApplication Manager
Yearly salary$96,652$122,748
Hourly rate$46.47$59.01
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs79,685125,760
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4747
Years of experience88

What does a change manager do?

The primary role of a change manager is to ensure the timely achievement of corporate projects. Change managers will see to it that the projects are on the budget allotted by the company through heightened employee usage and adoption. They focus on changes in technology and systems, organizational structure, job roles, and business processes. The most significant skills for this job include strategic analysis, digital literacy, leadership, and communication skills.

What does an application manager do?

An application manager is in charge of overseeing software applications and systems within a company, ensuring efficiency and quality. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around conducting research and analysis to identify company needs, assessing existing applications to determine their strengths and weaknesses, and implementing solutions to optimize the quality of services. They may also conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of applications, performing corrective measures when necessary. Furthermore, as an application manager, it is essential to coordinate with the information technology staff, encouraging them to reach goals and new heights.

Change manager vs application manager salary

Change managers and application managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Change ManagerApplication Manager
Average salary$96,652$122,748
Salary rangeBetween $72,000 And $128,000Between $93,000 And $160,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaRoku
Best paying industryProfessionalFinance

Differences between change manager and application manager education

There are a few differences between a change manager and an application manager in terms of educational background:

Change ManagerApplication Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Change manager vs application manager demographics

Here are the differences between change managers' and application managers' demographics:

Change ManagerApplication Manager
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 56.7% Female, 43.3%Male, 71.1% Female, 28.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 13.5% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between change manager and application manager duties and responsibilities

Change manager example responsibilities.

  • Implement and manage network installations and design for ShoretTel VoIP telephone systems and upgrades to cabling for VoIP requirements.
  • Manage and maintain workflows for this CRM as well as the enterprise wide web-base work ticket solution (RedMine).
  • Manage SharePoint server configuration list.
  • Manage expenditures and all project budgets within the portfolio including monthly forecasting.
  • Manage several new global business opportunity RFP responses through securing third party proposals.
  • Manage the SDLC risk assessment matrix that include mitigation strategies and contingency plans for corporate communication.
  • Show more

Application manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage the migration of all EDI infrastructures to a new ERP system on time and on budget.
  • Manage development and QA teams prior to releases; organize UAT test cycles with various business groups.
  • Manage organizational change via the PMO department
  • Manage separation of companies to individual ERP environments.
  • Manage methodologies to support Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) application requirements.
  • Lead design of POS replenishment process and software design/implementation to significantly increase retail sales.
  • Show more

Change manager vs application manager skills

Common change manager skills
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Organizational Change Management, 9%
  • Portfolio, 6%
  • Governance, 6%
  • Client Facing, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
Common application manager skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Project Management, 10%
  • Application Development, 5%
  • Architecture, 4%
  • Infrastructure, 4%
  • Software Development, 4%

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