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Manager applications development vs project leader

The differences between managers applications development and project leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a manager applications development and a project leader. Additionally, a manager applications development has an average salary of $123,527, which is higher than the $98,559 average annual salary of a project leader.

The top three skills for a manager applications development include application development, java and ongoing maintenance. The most important skills for a project leader are project management, work ethic, and C++.

Manager applications development vs project leader overview

Manager Applications DevelopmentProject Leader
Yearly salary$123,527$98,559
Hourly rate$59.39$47.38
Growth rate16%9%
Number of jobs181,768221,165
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

What does a manager applications development do?

An applications development manager is responsible for keeping businesses running smoothly and effectively through planning, coordinating, and overseeing all activities related to software applications. You will oversee the maintenance, upgrade, and support of existing applications and systems required for the smooth day-to-day operations of the business. Other tasks that you will likely perform include providing estimates for project timeline and cost, overseeing feasibility research on software applications, and diagnosing and troubleshooting program errors. As an applications development manager, you are also responsible for recommending software products and services that will benefit the company.

What does a project leader do?

A project leader is responsible for supervising the team and managing the distribution of tasks to ensure the project's success with the highest efficiency and accuracy. Duties of a project leader include motivating the team, managing the team's needs and concerns, providing effective strategies to improve the team's performance, creating reports, monitoring the team's progress, and maintaining the coordination between team members. A project leader should have exceptional leadership skills to handle the team's operation and identify areas of improvement to deliver excellent results.

Manager applications development vs project leader salary

Managers applications development and project leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Manager Applications DevelopmentProject Leader
Average salary$123,527$98,559
Salary rangeBetween $97,000 And $156,000Between $70,000 And $138,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyGoogleBoston Consulting Group
Best paying industryFinanceProfessional

Differences between manager applications development and project leader education

There are a few differences between a manager applications development and a project leader in terms of educational background:

Manager Applications DevelopmentProject Leader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorComputer ScienceBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Manager applications development vs project leader demographics

Here are the differences between managers applications development' and project leaders' demographics:

Manager Applications DevelopmentProject Leader
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 80.4% Female, 19.6%Male, 69.0% Female, 31.0%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between manager applications development and project leader duties and responsibilities

Manager applications development example responsibilities.

  • Manage, produce, programme .Net web applications and e-commerce sites.
  • Manage a staff of 20 employees to staff development and support projects in the Java technology stack.
  • Organize daily scrum sessions with burn down charts, managing successful delivery of multiple projects to product release.
  • Lead maintenance and development of four web sites utilizing two developers, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
  • Manage enhancement projects to existing applications using the SDLC development process.
  • Manage all development and migration projects from concept to implementation following SDLC
  • Show more

Project leader example responsibilities.

  • Lead and manage the automation effort for the PeopleSoft financials modules ensuring the desired requirement (s) coverage.
  • Lead the installation of VSAM file extension software that facilitate files larger than native VSAM specs.
  • Lead sprint planning, daily scrum, sprint review, sprint retrospective, scrum of scrum meetings.
  • Play a similar role for an ASP.NET web application (APA) which manages power plant availability information.
  • Manage using PMI methodologies though life cycle ensuring projects successfully complete within plan budget, schedule and scope.
  • Prepare RFP, evaluate bids, select vendor, negotiate contract, acquire hardware and software, manage development & implementation.
  • Show more

Manager applications development vs project leader skills

Common manager applications development skills
  • Application Development, 12%
  • Java, 9%
  • Ongoing Maintenance, 8%
  • Software Development, 5%
  • Architecture, 5%
  • Project Management, 4%
Common project leader skills
  • Project Management, 17%
  • Work Ethic, 7%
  • C++, 4%
  • C #, 4%
  • Project Plan, 4%
  • Status Reports, 3%

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