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What is a software release manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a software release manager. For example, did you know that they make an average of $59.19 an hour? That's $123,105 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 21% and produce 284,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreSoftware Release ManagerUS Average
Salary
8.2

Avg. Salary $123,105

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 21%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 36.60%

male 63.40%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.7

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Software release manager career paths

Key steps to become a software release manager

  1. Explore software release manager education requirements

    Most common software release manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    68.3 %

    Master's

    19.9 %

    Associate

    8.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific software release manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Software Releases9.93%
    Release Management9.85%
    Software Development9.72%
    Release Process6.06%
    QA5.37%
  3. Complete relevant software release manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New software release managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a software release manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real software release manager resumes.
  4. Research software release manager duties and responsibilities

    • Research and self-train in JIRA administration and am currently managing projects across several groups.
    • Work with management to train and identify other teams to manage mission critical projects to use TFS with.
    • Manage customer relationship by communicating SharePoint architecture standards and frameworks; answering questions; resolving concerns and issues.
    • Implement new processes to improve quality of software deliver through the systems development life cycle (SDLC).
  5. Apply for software release manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a software release manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first software release manager job

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Average software release manager salary

The average software release manager salary in the United States is $123,105 per year or $59 per hour. Software release manager salaries range between $92,000 and $163,000 per year.

Average software release manager salary
$123,105 Yearly
$59.19 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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