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The differences between senior technical program managers and lead program managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior technical program manager has an average salary of $137,188, which is higher than the $119,480 average annual salary of a lead program manager.
The top three skills for a senior technical program manager include technical program, program management and project management. The most important skills for a lead program manager are project management, program management, and portfolio.
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Lead Program Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $137,188 | $119,480 |
| Hourly rate | $65.96 | $57.44 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 252,894 | 200,688 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | - |
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.
A lead program manager is responsible for coordinating departmental projects and ensuring that the programs adhere to the business guidelines and functions to achieve long-term goals and objectives. Lead program managers strategize techniques in developing business plans and managing budget allocation across departments. They also coordinate with clients for progress updates and modify program plans as needed. A lead program manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to finalize program outputs and assist the team in resolving project issues and delays.
Senior technical program managers and lead program managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Lead Program Manager | |
| Average salary | $137,188 | $119,480 |
| Salary range | Between $102,000 And $184,000 | Between $89,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Roku | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior technical program manager and a lead program manager in terms of educational background:
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Lead Program Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior technical program managers' and lead program managers' demographics:
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Lead Program Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.7% Female, 25.3% | Male, 63.7% Female, 36.3% |
| 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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.1% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |