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Release manager vs project management specialist

The differences between release managers and project management specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a release manager, becoming a project management specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a release manager has an average salary of $109,886, which is higher than the $81,204 average annual salary of a project management specialist.

The top three skills for a release manager include release management, project management and software development. The most important skills for a project management specialist are PMP, powerpoint, and status reports.

Release manager vs project management specialist overview

Release ManagerProject Management Specialist
Yearly salary$109,886$81,204
Hourly rate$52.83$39.04
Growth rate21%11%
Number of jobs38,547145,872
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4444
Years of experience64

What does a release manager do?

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.

What does a project management specialist do?

A project management specialist is an individual who manages an entire project and serves as a point of contact for a client or customer. Project management specialists must provide detailed cost analysis and timetable reports to keep projects on schedule and budget. They must ask for frequent updates from all staff assigned so that they can identify potential problems that may keep projects from being completed on time. Project management specialists must also prepare progress reports of projects and create presentations for senior management.

Release manager vs project management specialist salary

Release managers and project management specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Release ManagerProject Management Specialist
Average salary$109,886$81,204
Salary rangeBetween $81,000 And $147,000Between $58,000 And $112,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CABridgewater, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyMetaEnbridge
Best paying industryRetailFinance

Differences between release manager and project management specialist education

There are a few differences between a release manager and a project management specialist in terms of educational background:

Release ManagerProject Management Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorComputer ScienceBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Release manager vs project management specialist demographics

Here are the differences between release managers' and project management specialists' demographics:

Release ManagerProject Management Specialist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 61.4% Female, 38.6%Male, 52.4% Female, 47.6%
Race ratioBlack 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, 8.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 11.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%12%

Differences between release manager and project management specialist duties and responsibilities

Release manager example responsibilities.

  • Used ruby to manage different templates in puppet modules.
  • Create, manage and write UAT process and test cases.
  • Manage configuration and log files with custom written PowerShell scripts.
  • Manage testing of new software updates and assist in debugging computer programs.
  • Programme shell scripts and manage multiple processes on both Linux and Unix environments.
  • Manage J2EE base large scale commercial enterprise software product releases and client accounts.
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Project management specialist example responsibilities.

  • Plan and manage all development and production activities for the company s new cardiac rhythmic management (CRM) extrusion line.
  • Manage user authorization in SharePoint.
  • Manage change management activation and stabilization activities for ERP project within all sites.
  • Manage a team responsible for designing service-orient application architecture, standards and best practices guidelines, security and data access frameworks.
  • Update, create stories, and modify VDS tasks in JIRA.
  • Facilitate project meetings, including setting the agenda, meeting logistics and documentation of meetings.
  • Show more

Release manager vs project management specialist skills

Common release manager skills
  • Release Management, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Software Development, 5%
  • Jira, 4%
  • Release Process, 4%
  • QA, 4%
Common project management specialist skills
  • PMP, 9%
  • PowerPoint, 7%
  • Status Reports, 7%
  • Program Management, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Project Management Tools, 5%

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