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The differences between senior technical program managers and information technology project managers 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 technical program manager, becoming an information technology project manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior technical program manager has an average salary of $137,188, which is higher than the $106,981 average annual salary of an information technology project manager.
The top three skills for a senior technical program manager include technical program, program management and project management. The most important skills for an information technology project manager are project management, infrastructure, and scrum.
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $137,188 | $106,981 |
| Hourly rate | $65.96 | $51.43 |
| Growth rate | 16% | - |
| Number of jobs | 252,894 | 207,249 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
A senior technical program manager is responsible for handling the overall development of technical project processes from the initial conceptualization to the completion. Senior technical program managers lead the development team, implementing strategic procedures to maintain the efficiency and accuracy of the output, as well as developing quality control techniques to spot inconsistencies and system failures. They also monitor the current technology trends, identify cost-reduction resources, and research on technical opportunities that would bring more revenues and increase the company's profitability.
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.
Senior technical program managers and information technology project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $137,188 | $106,981 |
| Salary range | Between $102,000 And $184,000 | Between $76,000 And $149,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Roku | Reed Smith |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior technical program manager and an information technology project manager in terms of educational background:
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior technical program managers' and information technology project managers' demographics:
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.7% Female, 25.3% | Male, 66.4% Female, 33.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 18.7% White, 61.2% 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% |