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The differences between engineering managers and lead engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become an engineering manager, becoming a lead engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineering manager has an average salary of $139,328, which is higher than the $84,927 average annual salary of a lead engineer.
The top three skills for an engineering manager include java, project management and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Engineering Manager | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $139,328 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $66.98 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 67,124 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed. An engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of engineering disciplines, as well as leadership and communication skills, monitoring the team's performance throughout the project.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Engineering managers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Manager | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $139,328 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $195,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Mixpanel | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an engineering manager and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Manager | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between engineering managers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Engineering Manager | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.2% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |