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The differences between release managers and information technology project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a release manager and an information technology project manager. Additionally, a release manager has an average salary of $109,886, which is higher than the $106,981 average annual salary of an information technology project manager.
The top three skills for a release manager include release management, project management and software development. The most important skills for an information technology project manager are project management, infrastructure, and scrum.
| Release Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $109,886 | $106,981 |
| Hourly rate | $52.83 | $51.43 |
| Growth rate | 21% | - |
| Number of jobs | 38,547 | 207,249 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A release manager is responsible for supervising project releases across various platforms by closely coordinating with technology and project teams, ensuring the stability and efficiency of outputs according to clients' specifications and business needs. Release managers handle the delivery management procedures from conceptualization to production, maintaining budget requirements and adherence to timetables. They also perform quality check processes to identify possible defects and inconsistencies with the deliverables and adjusting initial project plans as needed.
An information technology project manager is responsible for supervising the technology department, ensuring that all tasks are being done by following technological strategies and solutions. Information technology project managers' duties include monitoring the technology team's daily operation, handling team members' concerns, managing customers' inquiries and complaints, helping team members' in achieving their professional growth, creating reports, sharing updates during team and board meetings, and maintaining effectivity of operational procedures. An information technology project manager must have excellent leadership and decision-making skills to decide on the best strategies in meeting the company's objectives.
Release managers and information technology project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Release Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $109,886 | $106,981 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $147,000 | Between $76,000 And $149,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Reed Smith |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a release manager and an information technology project manager in terms of educational background:
| Release Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between release managers' and information technology project managers' demographics:
| Release Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6% | Male, 66.4% Female, 33.6% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |