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The differences between lead program managers and senior project managers 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 $110,947 average annual salary of a senior project manager.
The top three skills for a lead program manager include project management, program management and portfolio. The most important skills for a senior project manager are project management, program management, and portfolio.
| Lead Program Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $119,480 | $110,947 |
| Hourly rate | $57.44 | $53.34 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 200,688 | 183,210 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Senior project managers are experienced employees assigned to oversee a specific project in the organization. They manage the project from conception to execution. They are onboard the project from the ideation phase, providing valuable insights to ensure the success of the project. Senior project managers are also in charge of managing the budget, ensuring that the expected timelines are followed, adjusting strategies when needed, and guiding project team members. It is important for senior project managers to be good leaders and communicators. They should be able to balance the interests of all the stakeholders involved in the project. They should have good interpersonal skills and decision-making skills.
Lead program managers and senior project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Program Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $119,480 | $110,947 |
| Salary range | Between $89,000 And $158,000 | Between $82,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lead program manager and a senior project manager in terms of educational background:
| Lead Program Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between lead program managers' and senior project managers' demographics:
| Lead Program Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.7% Female, 36.3% | Male, 71.4% Female, 28.6% |
| 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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |