Project management lead vs manager, program management

The differences between project management leads and managers, program management can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a project management lead, becoming a manager, program management takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a manager, program management has an average salary of $112,937, which is higher than the $85,117 average annual salary of a project management lead.

The top three skills for a project management lead include project management, customer service and portfolio. The most important skills for a manager, program management are project management, risk management, and process improvement.

Project management lead vs manager, program management overview

	Project Management Lead	Manager, Program Management
Yearly salary	$85,117	$112,937
Hourly rate	$40.92	$54.30
Growth rate	11%	16%
Number of jobs	158,441	271,873
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age	44	47
Years of experience	6	8

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.

What does a manager, program management do?

A program management manager is an individual who guides project managers and oversees and coordinates an organization's projects, products, and other strategic initiatives. The day-to-day responsibilities of a program manager include planning the overall program, managing the program's budget and the main program documents, and defining the program governance. The requirements to qualify for the program manager position including possessing a good managerial, business, and problem-solving skills and possessing a bachelor's or master's degree in business, management, or a related field.

Project management lead vs manager, program management salary

Project management leads and managers, program management have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Project Management Lead	Manager, Program Management
Average salary	$85,117	$112,937
Salary range	Between $53,000 And $136,000	Between $82,000 And $155,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	California
Best paying company	Meta	Meta
Best paying industry	Energy	Technology

Differences between project management lead and manager, program management education

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

	Project Management Lead	Manager, Program Management
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Carnegie Mellon University

Project management lead vs manager, program management demographics

Here are the differences between project management leads' and managers, program management' demographics:

	Project Management Lead	Manager, Program Management
Average age	44	47
Gender ratio	Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8%	Male, 58.3% Female, 41.7%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between project management lead and manager, program management duties and responsibilities

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.

Manager, program management example responsibilities.

Used SQL to manage data in the regional data base.
Collaborate consistently with internal and client teams to manage SDLC.
Manage integration, configuration, and deployment of package SaaS and custom systems.
Champion and lead successful lean six sigma projects that result in $100K+ savings per year.
Manage the relationship with the vendor whose development teams are scrum orient and locate in multiple countries.
Lead project delivery of joint marketing system for business partners in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

Project management lead vs manager, program management skills

Common project management lead skills

Project Management, 12%
Customer Service, 10%
Portfolio, 6%
Risk Management, 6%
Plumbing, 5%
Organizational Change Management, 4%

Common manager, program management skills

Project Management, 13%
Risk Management, 7%
Process Improvement, 4%
Oversight, 4%
Infrastructure, 4%
Continuous Improvement, 4%

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Project Management Lead vs Manager, Program Management

Updated January 8, 2025

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