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The differences between information technology project managers and contract project 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 manager, becoming a contract project manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, an information technology project manager has an average salary of $106,981, which is higher than the $81,263 average annual salary of a contract project manager.
The top three skills for an information technology project manager include project management, infrastructure and scrum. The most important skills for a contract project manager are project management, project scope, and contract project.
| Information Technology Project Manager | Contract Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $106,981 | $81,263 |
| Hourly rate | $51.43 | $39.07 |
| Growth rate | - | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 207,249 | 159,765 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
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.
A contract project manager is an executive professional who provides project management and business analysis to fill the needs of an organization. Contract project managers are required to monitor and inspect contract projects to maintain a high level of safety and quality traffic control in highly variable conditions. They assist contract project administration with the review of project progress reports. Contract project managers must also manage the relationship between clients and the organization while monitoring the progress of the project to ensure that it complies with the terms of the corporate contract.
Information technology project managers and contract project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Project Manager | Contract Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $106,981 | $81,263 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $149,000 | Between $53,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Reed Smith | PRO Unlimited |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an information technology project manager and a contract project manager in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Project Manager | Contract Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between information technology project managers' and contract project managers' demographics:
| Information Technology Project Manager | Contract Project Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.4% Female, 33.6% | Male, 66.1% Female, 33.9% |
| 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, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.8% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 4% |