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The differences between senior technical program managers and technical directors 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 a technical director takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior technical program manager has an average salary of $137,188, which is higher than the $131,719 average annual salary of a technical director.
The top three skills for a senior technical program manager include technical program, program management and project management. The most important skills for a technical director are business development, architecture, and technical expertise.
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Technical Director | |
| Yearly salary | $137,188 | $131,719 |
| Hourly rate | $65.96 | $63.33 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 252,894 | 77,550 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
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 technical director is responsible for monitoring the technical efficiency of operations. Technical directors inspect audio and visual equipment, lighting systems for productions, and other technical processes. They ensure that all the equipment is in proper working condition, identify and troubleshoot defects, and deliver high-quality project results. They also monitor expenses, forecast sales reports, and create cost estimates for the systems needed for the project completion, following the clients' specifications to gain satisfaction. A technical director must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to manage operational processes with maximum accuracy.
Senior technical program managers and technical directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Technical Director | |
| Average salary | $137,188 | $131,719 |
| Salary range | Between $102,000 And $184,000 | Between $86,000 And $200,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Roku | Nike |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior technical program manager and a technical director in terms of educational background:
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Technical Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior technical program managers' and technical directors' demographics:
| Senior Technical Program Manager | Technical Director | |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.7% Female, 25.3% | Male, 82.4% Female, 17.6% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 14% |