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The differences between information technology project leads and information technology support managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an information technology project lead, becoming an information technology support manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, an information technology support manager has an average salary of $104,424, 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 support manager are customer service, ITIL, and project management.
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Support Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,491 | $104,424 |
| Hourly rate | $49.27 | $50.20 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 181,020 | 162,131 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
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.
Information technology support manager primarily supervises information technology support staff, oversees system and software maintenance, and repairs. They assist with computer equipment installation and purchasing and maintaining a secure network and connectivity for users. It is part of their role to coordinate training and development for new technology users. Another vital role is they monitor online security for users and networks and takes appropriate steps to address possible security breaches if necessary. Moreover, they also develop contingency plans to address any equipment, power, or possible security failure to ensure the protection of technology and data.
Information technology project leads and information technology support managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Support Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,491 | $104,424 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $139,000 | Between $76,000 And $142,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Washington |
| Best paying company | Citi | Clinica Sierra Vista |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an information technology project lead and an information technology support manager in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Support Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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 support managers' demographics:
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Support Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.6% Female, 34.4% | Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8% |
| 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, 6.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 12.6% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |