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The differences between information technology project leads and information technology project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an information technology project lead and an information technology project manager. Additionally, an information technology project manager has an average salary of $106,981, which is higher than the $102,491 average annual salary of an information technology project lead.
The top three skills for an information technology project lead include project management, software development and status reports. The most important skills for an information technology project manager are project management, infrastructure, and scrum.
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,491 | $106,981 |
| Hourly rate | $49.27 | $51.43 |
| Growth rate | 9% | - |
| Number of jobs | 181,020 | 207,249 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Information technology (IT) project leads are professionals who manage a team of IT professionals that work on the IT projects of an organization. These project leads are required to handle all issues regarding the project and financial management as well as review business and product requirements with the technical development team to address production issues. They must collaborate with the technical and application team leaders so that they can ensure the appropriate development of infrastructure architecture. IT project leads must also participate in negotiations with the software suppliers and IT consulting firms.
An information technology project manager is responsible for supervising the technology department, ensuring that all tasks are being done by following technological strategies and solutions. Information technology project managers' duties include monitoring the technology team's daily operation, handling team members' concerns, managing customers' inquiries and complaints, helping team members' in achieving their professional growth, creating reports, sharing updates during team and board meetings, and maintaining effectivity of operational procedures. An information technology project manager must have excellent leadership and decision-making skills to decide on the best strategies in meeting the company's objectives.
Information technology project leads and information technology project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,491 | $106,981 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $139,000 | Between $76,000 And $149,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Citi | Reed Smith |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology project lead and an information technology project manager in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology project leads' and information technology project managers' demographics:
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.6% Female, 34.4% | Male, 66.4% Female, 33.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |