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The differences between program administration managers and lead program 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 $70,823 average annual salary of a program administration manager.
The top three skills for a program administration manager include powerpoint, human resources and data management. The most important skills for a lead program manager are project management, program management, and portfolio.
| Program Administration Manager | Lead Program Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $70,823 | $119,480 |
| Hourly rate | $34.05 | $57.44 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 128,379 | 200,688 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A program administration manager is in charge of overseeing the daily operations of programs and projects of a company, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place or industry of employment, it typically includes setting goals and guidelines, establishing schedules and budgets, managing staff, preparing and processing documentation, liaising with internal and external parties, and developing strategies to optimize program operations. Moreover, a program administration manager must lead and encourage staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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.
Program administration managers and lead program managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Administration Manager | Lead Program Manager | |
| Average salary | $70,823 | $119,480 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $99,000 | Between $89,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a program administration manager and a lead program manager in terms of educational background:
| Program Administration Manager | Lead Program Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between program administration managers' and lead program managers' demographics:
| Program Administration Manager | Lead Program Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.6% Female, 62.4% | Male, 63.7% Female, 36.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 8.5% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |