Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between managers information technology specialist and information technology project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a manager information technology specialist, becoming an information technology project manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an information technology project manager has an average salary of $106,981, which is higher than the $97,475 average annual salary of a manager information technology specialist.
The top three skills for a manager information technology specialist include customer service, troubleshoot and data entry. The most important skills for an information technology project manager are project management, infrastructure, and scrum.
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $97,475 | $106,981 |
| Hourly rate | $46.86 | $51.43 |
| Growth rate | 10% | - |
| Number of jobs | 118,806 | 207,249 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Information technology (IT) specialist managers coordinate, plan, and manage an organization's computer-related activities by determining information technology needs and implementing computer systems in compliance with the organization's information system requirements. The job involves management in the monitoring, assessment, and troubleshooting tasks and directing daily operations such as developing standards and setting deadlines. These managers develop strong technical and project management skills and their demand is said to grow as firms continue to expand their business to digital platforms.
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.
Managers information technology specialist and information technology project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $97,475 | $106,981 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $137,000 | Between $76,000 And $149,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | IBM | Reed Smith |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manager information technology specialist and an information technology project manager in terms of educational background:
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between managers information technology specialist' and information technology project managers' demographics:
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 66.4% Female, 33.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |