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The differences between software development project managers and lead software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a software development project manager and a lead software developer. Additionally, a lead software developer has an average salary of $115,072, which is higher than the $106,633 average annual salary of a software development project manager.
The top three skills for a software development project manager include project management, scrum and software development. The most important skills for a lead software developer are java, architecture, and application development.
| Software Development Project Manager | Lead Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $106,633 | $115,072 |
| Hourly rate | $51.27 | $55.32 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 331,412 | 309,029 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Software development project managers are responsible for scheduling, planning, and delivering software and web projects. The managers must have knowledge of project estimation techniques and the ability to motivate team members. These managers plan out the blueprints for software projects like allocating resources, laying out communication strategies, and indicating test and maintenance. Also, they participate and supervise each stage of the project, ensure each project stays on schedule and adheres to the deadline, and discuss potential projects with clients, software developers, and executives.
A lead software developer is responsible for creating and designing software applications and systems to support business functions and client requirements. Lead software developers analyze specifications to build efficient applications, conduct multiple quality testing, and enhance the user's interface. They also coordinate with the design engineers to modify and improve the features of existing software applications for optimal performance. A lead software developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in considering the current technology trends to meet demands.
Software development project managers and lead software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Development Project Manager | Lead Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $106,633 | $115,072 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $148,000 | Between $87,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Barclays | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a software development project manager and a lead software developer in terms of educational background:
| Software Development Project Manager | Lead Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between software development project managers' and lead software developers' demographics:
| Software Development Project Manager | Lead Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |