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The differences between release managers and project team leads 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 a project team lead. Additionally, a release manager has an average salary of $109,886, which is higher than the $105,306 average annual salary of a project team lead.
The top three skills for a release manager include release management, project management and software development. The most important skills for a project team lead are project management, R, and project scope.
| Release Manager | Project Team Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $109,886 | $105,306 |
| Hourly rate | $52.83 | $50.63 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 38,547 | 125,539 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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.
A project team lead sets up the expectations for the team members. Project team leads are in charge of setting the direction for the team members. They see to it that the members will not stray from the team's goals. They lead and engage in project works. It is their job to maintain the dynamics of the team. It is their aim not to fail in their management and leadership skills. They need to have conflict and resolution skills, communication skills, attention to detail, and patience.
Release managers and project team leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Release Manager | Project Team Lead | |
| Average salary | $109,886 | $105,306 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $147,000 | Between $80,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Citi |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a release manager and a project team lead in terms of educational background:
| Release Manager | Project Team Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between release managers' and project team leads' demographics:
| Release Manager | Project Team Lead | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| 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% |