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The differences between lead program managers and program management consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead program manager has an average salary of $119,480, which is higher than the $101,157 average annual salary of a program management consultant.
The top three skills for a lead program manager include project management, program management and portfolio. The most important skills for a program management consultant are customer service, project management, and management program.
| Lead Program Manager | Program Management Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $119,480 | $101,157 |
| Hourly rate | $57.44 | $48.63 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 200,688 | 177,578 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A lead program manager is responsible for coordinating departmental projects and ensuring that the programs adhere to the business guidelines and functions to achieve long-term goals and objectives. Lead program managers strategize techniques in developing business plans and managing budget allocation across departments. They also coordinate with clients for progress updates and modify program plans as needed. A lead program manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to finalize program outputs and assist the team in resolving project issues and delays.
A program management consultant is responsible for analyzing project requirements based on clients' specifications, developing quality improvement techniques, and reviewing project deliverables. Program management consultants work closely with the project team to identify project initiatives and resolve complexities that may arise. They also inspect the resources and materials to be utilized during the project and determine cost-reduction processes without compromising quality and efficiency. A program management consultant coordinates with the clients for progress updates and informs them of any plan adjustments as needed.
Lead program managers and program management consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Program Manager | Program Management Consultant | |
| Average salary | $119,480 | $101,157 |
| Salary range | Between $89,000 And $158,000 | Between $74,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | eBay |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lead program manager and a program management consultant in terms of educational background:
| Lead Program Manager | Program Management Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between lead program managers' and program management consultants' demographics:
| Lead Program Manager | Program Management Consultant | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.7% Female, 36.3% | Male, 60.6% Female, 39.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.1% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 13.4% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |