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The differences between senior technical program managers and senior project 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 $110,947 average annual salary of a senior 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 a senior project manager are project management, program management, and portfolio.
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $137,188 | $110,947 |
| Hourly rate | $65.96 | $53.34 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 252,894 | 183,210 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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.
Senior project managers are experienced employees assigned to oversee a specific project in the organization. They manage the project from conception to execution. They are onboard the project from the ideation phase, providing valuable insights to ensure the success of the project. Senior project managers are also in charge of managing the budget, ensuring that the expected timelines are followed, adjusting strategies when needed, and guiding project team members. It is important for senior project managers to be good leaders and communicators. They should be able to balance the interests of all the stakeholders involved in the project. They should have good interpersonal skills and decision-making skills.
Senior technical program managers and senior project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $137,188 | $110,947 |
| Salary range | Between $102,000 And $184,000 | Between $82,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Roku | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior technical program manager and a senior project manager in terms of educational background:
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior technical program managers' and senior project managers' demographics:
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.7% Female, 25.3% | Male, 71.4% Female, 28.6% |
| 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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |