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The differences between software leaders and project leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a software leader, becoming a project leader takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a software leader has an average salary of $124,694, which is higher than the $98,559 average annual salary of a project leader.
The top three skills for a software leader include java, python and cloud. The most important skills for a project leader are project management, work ethic, and C++.
| Software Leader | Project Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $124,694 | $98,559 |
| Hourly rate | $59.95 | $47.38 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 267,920 | 221,165 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
A project leader is responsible for supervising the team and managing the distribution of tasks to ensure the project's success with the highest efficiency and accuracy. Duties of a project leader include motivating the team, managing the team's needs and concerns, providing effective strategies to improve the team's performance, creating reports, monitoring the team's progress, and maintaining the coordination between team members. A project leader should have exceptional leadership skills to handle the team's operation and identify areas of improvement to deliver excellent results.
Software leaders and project leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Leader | Project Leader | |
| Average salary | $124,694 | $98,559 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $166,000 | Between $70,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Boston Consulting Group |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Professional |
There are a few differences between a software leader and a project leader in terms of educational background:
| Software Leader | Project Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software leaders' and project leaders' demographics:
| Software Leader | Project Leader | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% | Male, 69.0% Female, 31.0% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |