Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior information technology managers and information technology technical leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a senior information technology manager, becoming an information technology technical lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior information technology manager has an average salary of $133,138, which is higher than the $110,879 average annual salary of an information technology technical lead.
The top three skills for a senior information technology manager include project management, cloud and architecture. The most important skills for an information technology technical lead are project management, architecture, and governance.
| Senior Information Technology Manager | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $133,138 | $110,879 |
| Hourly rate | $64.01 | $53.31 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 187,930 | 156,246 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
A senior information technology manager is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and performance of the company's technology and network systems. Senior information technology managers oversee technology infrastructures and operations, ensuring the processes adhere to the company policies and regulations. They analyze the schematics and specifications of computer systems, maintaining the safety and security across all networks to prevent unauthorized access. A senior information technology manager must have extensive knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages.
An information technology technical lead is responsible for assisting the technology team in solving system issues, designing new application systems, improving existing network infrastructure, and maintaining the safety and security of the organization's database. Information technology technical leads inspect the technology system's performance, recommending strategic solutions for optimization and smooth navigations for end-users. They also perform configurations and modifications, adhering to business requirements to support production operations. An information technology technical lead must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes to handle technical complexities for maximum efficiency.
Senior information technology managers and information technology technical leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Information Technology Manager | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Average salary | $133,138 | $110,879 |
| Salary range | Between $98,000 And $179,000 | Between $84,000 And $146,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Netflix | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a senior information technology manager and an information technology technical lead in terms of educational background:
| Senior Information Technology Manager | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior information technology managers' and information technology technical leads' demographics:
| Senior Information Technology Manager | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 14.6% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |