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The differences between software development project managers and senior project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior project manager has an average salary of $110,947, 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 senior project manager are project management, program management, and portfolio.
| Software Development Project Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $106,633 | $110,947 |
| Hourly rate | $51.27 | $53.34 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 331,412 | 183,210 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 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.
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.
Software development project managers and senior project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Development Project Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $106,633 | $110,947 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $148,000 | Between $82,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Barclays | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software development project manager and a senior project manager in terms of educational background:
| Software Development Project Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between software development project managers' and senior project managers' demographics:
| Software Development Project Manager | Senior Project Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% | Male, 71.4% Female, 28.6% |
| 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, 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 | 8% | 10% |