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The differences between managers information technology specialist and information technology technical leads 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 technical lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an information technology technical lead has an average salary of $110,879, 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 technical lead are project management, architecture, and governance.
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $97,475 | $110,879 |
| Hourly rate | $46.86 | $53.31 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 118,806 | 156,246 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 technical lead is responsible for assisting the technology team in solving system issues, designing new application systems, improving existing network infrastructure, and maintaining the safety and security of the organization's database. Information technology technical leads inspect the technology system's performance, recommending strategic solutions for optimization and smooth navigations for end-users. They also perform configurations and modifications, adhering to business requirements to support production operations. An information technology technical lead must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes to handle technical complexities for maximum efficiency.
Managers information technology specialist and information technology technical leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Average salary | $97,475 | $110,879 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $137,000 | Between $84,000 And $146,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | IBM | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a manager information technology specialist and an information technology technical lead in terms of educational background:
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between managers information technology specialist' and information technology technical leads' demographics:
| Manager Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1% |
| 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% |