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The differences between software project managers and information technology project 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 project manager, becoming an information technology project manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a software project manager has an average salary of $115,181, which is higher than the $106,981 average annual salary of an information technology project manager.
The top three skills for a software project manager include project management, scrum and development process. The most important skills for an information technology project manager are project management, infrastructure, and scrum.
| Software Project Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $115,181 | $106,981 |
| Hourly rate | $55.38 | $51.43 |
| Growth rate | 21% | - |
| Number of jobs | 285,134 | 207,249 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A software project manager is responsible for leading software projects and development from its conceptualization to final deliverables. Software project managers coordinate with the clients for their specifications and requirements, including their budget limitations and timetables. They discuss the project outline with software developers and design engineers and gather all the ideas for the design plan. A software project manager reviews every successful milestone completion, revise project plans as needed, and ensure the stability and efficiency of software applications by running quality control tests.
An information technology project manager is responsible for supervising the technology department, ensuring that all tasks are being done by following technological strategies and solutions. Information technology project managers' duties include monitoring the technology team's daily operation, handling team members' concerns, managing customers' inquiries and complaints, helping team members' in achieving their professional growth, creating reports, sharing updates during team and board meetings, and maintaining effectivity of operational procedures. An information technology project manager must have excellent leadership and decision-making skills to decide on the best strategies in meeting the company's objectives.
Software project managers and information technology project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Project Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $115,181 | $106,981 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $156,000 | Between $76,000 And $149,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Reed Smith |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software project manager and an information technology project manager in terms of educational background:
| Software Project Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software project managers' and information technology project managers' demographics:
| Software Project Manager | Information Technology Project Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8% | Male, 66.4% Female, 33.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.6% 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% |