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Project executive vs project manager

The differences between project executives and project managers 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 $91,578 average annual salary of a project manager.

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

Project executive vs project manager overview

Project ExecutiveProject Manager
Yearly salary$123,391$91,578
Hourly rate$59.32$44.03
Growth rate16%8%
Number of jobs137,160167,116
Job satisfaction-4.17
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

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 manager do?

Project managers oversee a specific project related to the organization's business. They manage the whole project from inception to evaluation. They initiate planning with involved departments, follow-through on the plans, ensure smooth execution of the plans, and evaluate the project for further improvements should these be needed. In line with this, project managers also ensure that the project is cost-efficient and well within the budget. They also manage the different work teams involved in the project and ensure that things are running smoothly on this aspect as well.

Project executive vs project manager salary

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

Project ExecutiveProject Manager
Average salary$123,391$91,578
Salary rangeBetween $79,000 And $191,000Between $64,000 And $129,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyEckardt GroupThe Citadel
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between project executive and project manager education

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

Project ExecutiveProject Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Project executive vs project manager demographics

Here are the differences between project executives' and project managers' demographics:

Project ExecutiveProject Manager
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 74.4% Female, 25.6%Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1%
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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between project executive and project manager 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.
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Project manager example responsibilities.

  • Schedule and manage the GCP audit process.
  • Define, develop and manage metrics and KPIs systems for new product business group.
  • Manage the application process for the FDA medical device, minority and small business certifications.
  • Manage multiple projects and resources simultaneously while mentoring, coaching and implementing best practices, SOX and HIPAA compliance standards.
  • Lead teams using the Informatica ETL tool for the design and development of multiple financial and risk enterprise data warehouses.
  • Administer and manage Salesforce requirements.
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Project executive vs project manager skills

Common project executive skills
  • Construction Management, 13%
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Healthcare, 9%
  • Business Development, 7%
  • Client Satisfaction, 5%
  • Portfolio, 4%
Common project manager skills
  • Project Management, 23%
  • Project Scope, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Infrastructure, 5%
  • Status Reports, 4%
  • Risk Management, 3%

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