Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between software leaders and program/project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a software leader has an average salary of $124,694, which is higher than the $101,850 average annual salary of a program/project manager.
The top three skills for a software leader include java, python and cloud. The most important skills for a program/project manager are project management, program management, and PMP.
| Software Leader | Program/Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $124,694 | $101,850 |
| Hourly rate | $59.95 | $48.97 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 267,920 | 243,017 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A Software Leader takes responsibility for the execution of his/her /her team and the quality of the team's performance. Software Leaders ensure the cadence of their team's production process. As coaches, leaders mentor and teach the people within the team. They extend help when their team needs it to remove any possible hindrance. Also, they serve as team ambassadors or representatives.
The program manager and project manager are two important positions within a company that are thought to be similar. However, program managers direct diverse projects and programs while project managers head the team who is responsible for ensuring a project is completed on time and within budget. Program managers are responsible for the conveyance of the company goals and generally act as a customer interface that helps clients get their desired update and change of a project. Project managers, on the other hand, focus on the project's schedule, scope, and resources needed to complete it on time.
Software leaders and program/project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Leader | Program/Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $124,694 | $101,850 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $166,000 | Between $74,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Professional |
There are a few differences between a software leader and a program/project manager in terms of educational background:
| Software Leader | Program/Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between software leaders' and program/project managers' demographics:
| Software Leader | Program/Project Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% | Male, 62.0% Female, 38.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |