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Project liaison vs project management lead

The differences between project liaisons and project management leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project management lead has an average salary of $85,117, which is higher than the $81,451 average annual salary of a project liaison.

The top three skills for a project liaison include project management, sigma and logistics. The most important skills for a project management lead are project management, customer service, and portfolio.

Project liaison vs project management lead overview

Project LiaisonProject Management Lead
Yearly salary$81,451$85,117
Hourly rate$39.16$40.92
Growth rate-11%
Number of jobs72,701158,441
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4744
Years of experience-6

What does a project liaison do?

Project liaisons communicate effectively between multiple team members and stakeholders. The job will require persuasiveness, approachability, likeability, adaptability, and skills in project management in order to do well in this career choice. Those who choose this career path will be a capstone team's main organizational contact, with time devoted to the project depending on the project's scope.

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 liaison vs project management lead salary

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

Project LiaisonProject Management Lead
Average salary$81,451$85,117
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $144,000Between $53,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CityWilmington, DENew York, NY
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNew Jersey
Best paying companyLogistics Management InstituteMeta
Best paying industry-Energy

Differences between project liaison and project management lead education

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

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

Project liaison vs project management lead demographics

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

Project LiaisonProject Management Lead
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 49.4% Female, 50.6%Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% 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 liaison and project management lead duties and responsibilities

Project liaison example responsibilities.

  • Manage logistics and conduct initial train-the-trainer events and certification processes.
  • Focuse on continuously improving existing processes, including managing SharePoint files and recommending improvements to digital architecture.
  • Implement a repeatable process methodology base on the PMI PMBOK defining a systematic approach to delivering solutions and achieving customer objectives.
  • Install dry-wall, floors, doors, and windows.
  • Act as plant POC for engineering changes.
  • Work with QA on sample preparations for the global markets.
  • 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 liaison vs project management lead skills

Common project liaison skills
  • Project Management, 28%
  • Sigma, 12%
  • Logistics, 8%
  • Operational Aspects, 6%
  • IPT, 4%
  • SharePoint, 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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