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Project executive vs project management lead

The differences between project executives and project management leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project executive has an average salary of $123,391, which is higher than the $85,117 average annual salary of a project management lead.

The top three skills for a project executive include construction management, project management and healthcare. The most important skills for a project management lead are project management, customer service, and portfolio.

Project executive vs project management lead overview

Project ExecutiveProject Management Lead
Yearly salary$123,391$85,117
Hourly rate$59.32$40.92
Growth rate16%11%
Number of jobs137,160158,441
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4744
Years of experience-6

What does a project executive do?

A project executive spearheads the projects and programs of an organization, ensuring its completion within deadlines, budgets, and standards. They mainly have administrative duties, such as streamlining project requirements and guidelines, establishing goals and budgets, setting timelines, delegating responsibilities among teams, selecting resources and materials, and monitoring operations, addressing issues and concerns when any arise. Additionally, a project executive leads employees to reach goals and implements the company standards and policies for an efficient workflow and service.

What does a project management lead do?

A project management lead is in charge of overseeing all processes involved in the planning and delivery of projects in an organization. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating departments and personnel involved in every project to ensure accuracy and timeliness, managing budget and expenditures, producing progress reports and presentations, assessing risks, and delivering optimal quality results. Furthermore, as a management lead, it is crucial to lead and encourage team members, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Project executive vs project management lead salary

Project executives and project management leads have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project ExecutiveProject Management Lead
Average salary$123,391$85,117
Salary rangeBetween $79,000 And $191,000Between $53,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WANew York, NY
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew Jersey
Best paying companyEckardt GroupMeta
Best paying industry-Energy

Differences between project executive and project management lead education

There are a few differences between a project executive and a project management lead in terms of educational background:

Project ExecutiveProject Management Lead
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Project executive vs project management lead demographics

Here are the differences between project executives' and project management leads' demographics:

Project ExecutiveProject Management Lead
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 74.4% Female, 25.6%Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage10%11%

Differences between project executive and project management lead duties and responsibilities

Project executive example responsibilities.

  • Note for co-authoring and managing RFP process.
  • Manage projects using ITIL and SDLC methodologies.
  • Manage vendors and internal service owners to create the proper operating model to deliver service against SLAs.
  • Lead cross-functional team delivery execution of top-of-rack and embed converged network architecture switches.
  • Coordinate and manage project delivery of healthcare design and construction projects in collaboration with hospital staff.
  • Lead operational transformation projects, perform service line volume projections, and feasibility exercises for various facilities.
  • Show more

Project management lead example responsibilities.

  • Manage system architecture design, software development and QA testing process.
  • Direct and oversee multiple PMs and/or team leads on complex projects.
  • Manage and maintain all financial responsibilities including receivables, payroll, taxation, budgeting, internal audit and compliance and bookkeeping.
  • Plan, develop, and lead cross-functional project teams to develop and implement infrastructure solutions and product offerings using PMI methodology.
  • Manage several mechanical retrofit projects for Verizon.
  • Manage ITIL process implementation review of change and configuration management.
  • Show more

Project executive vs project management lead skills

Common project executive skills
  • Construction Management, 13%
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Healthcare, 9%
  • Business Development, 7%
  • Client Satisfaction, 5%
  • Portfolio, 4%
Common project management lead skills
  • Project Management, 12%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Portfolio, 6%
  • Risk Management, 6%
  • Plumbing, 5%
  • Organizational Change Management, 4%

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