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The differences between program management specialists 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 $82,591 average annual salary of a program management specialist.
The top three skills for a program management specialist include project management, DOD and powerpoint. The most important skills for a lead program manager are project management, program management, and portfolio.
| Program Management Specialist | Lead Program Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $82,591 | $119,480 |
| Hourly rate | $39.71 | $57.44 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 152,144 | 200,688 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A project management specialist is responsible for overseeing different programs and projects within a company, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around identifying project needs, participating in setting goals and objectives, managing schedules and budgets, performing risk and cost assessments, and producing progress reports and presentations for the directors and other executives. Furthermore, a project management specialist may also perform research and analysis to find new business opportunities and liaise with clients to generate sales.
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 management specialists and lead program managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Management Specialist | Lead Program Manager | |
| Average salary | $82,591 | $119,480 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $122,000 | Between $89,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | Worcester, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a program management specialist and a lead program manager in terms of educational background:
| Program Management Specialist | Lead Program Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between program management specialists' and lead program managers' demographics:
| Program Management Specialist | Lead Program Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.9% Female, 60.1% | Male, 63.7% Female, 36.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.0% 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% |