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The differences between information technology project leads and information technology technical leads 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 technical lead. Additionally, an information technology technical lead has an average salary of $110,879, 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 technical lead are project management, architecture, and governance.
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $102,491 | $110,879 |
| Hourly rate | $49.27 | $53.31 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 181,020 | 156,246 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 technical lead is responsible for assisting the technology team in solving system issues, designing new application systems, improving existing network infrastructure, and maintaining the safety and security of the organization's database. Information technology technical leads inspect the technology system's performance, recommending strategic solutions for optimization and smooth navigations for end-users. They also perform configurations and modifications, adhering to business requirements to support production operations. An information technology technical lead must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes to handle technical complexities for maximum efficiency.
Information technology project leads and information technology technical leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Average salary | $102,491 | $110,879 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $139,000 | Between $84,000 And $146,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Citi | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an information technology project lead and an information technology technical lead in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology project leads' and information technology technical leads' demographics:
| Information Technology Project Lead | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.6% Female, 34.4% | Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1% |
| 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% |