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The differences between software leaders and team lead/managers 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 team lead/manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a software leader has an average salary of $124,694, which is higher than the $88,042 average annual salary of a team lead/manager.
The top three skills for a software leader include java, python and cloud. The most important skills for a team lead/manager are excellent interpersonal, customer service, and cleanliness.
| Software Leader | Team Lead/Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $124,694 | $88,042 |
| Hourly rate | $59.95 | $42.33 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 267,920 | 194,880 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| 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 team lead or manager is an individual who is responsible for guiding and directing employees so that they can achieve efficient operations within the organization. Team leads manage all the activities of their employees and distribute information to them as well as stakeholders. They provide coaching and training to employees so that they can achieve goals and developed the necessary skills that get results. The team also leads set ground rules and properly assigns tasks to employees so that they can avoid conflicts among staff.
Software leaders and team lead/managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Leader | Team Lead/Manager | |
| Average salary | $124,694 | $88,042 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $166,000 | Between $53,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a software leader and a team lead/manager in terms of educational background:
| Software Leader | Team Lead/Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi |
Here are the differences between software leaders' and team lead/managers' demographics:
| Software Leader | Team Lead/Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% | Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |