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The differences between technical directors and technical support managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a technical director and a technical support manager. Additionally, a technical director has an average salary of $131,719, which is higher than the $106,760 average annual salary of a technical support manager.
The top three skills for a technical director include business development, architecture and technical expertise. The most important skills for a technical support manager are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Technical Director | Technical Support Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $131,719 | $106,760 |
| Hourly rate | $63.33 | $51.33 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 77,550 | 149,977 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A technical director is responsible for monitoring the technical efficiency of operations. Technical directors inspect audio and visual equipment, lighting systems for productions, and other technical processes. They ensure that all the equipment is in proper working condition, identify and troubleshoot defects, and deliver high-quality project results. They also monitor expenses, forecast sales reports, and create cost estimates for the systems needed for the project completion, following the clients' specifications to gain satisfaction. A technical director must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to manage operational processes with maximum accuracy.
A Technical Support Manager is responsible for supervising the overall technical aspects of an organization to ensure efficient business solutions to support functions and operations. Technical support managers evaluate technical networks and systems, coordinating with the engineering team to identify techniques that would maximize the staff's productivity and enhance operational performance. They also review resolution reports and handle resource allocations to execute business plans according to company requirements and specifications. A Technical Support Manager must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in identifying process gaps and upgrading system infrastructures.
Technical directors and technical support managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Director | Technical Support Manager | |
| Average salary | $131,719 | $106,760 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $200,000 | Between $76,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Nike | BitGo |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a technical director and a technical support manager in terms of educational background:
| Technical Director | Technical Support Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between technical directors' and technical support managers' demographics:
| Technical Director | Technical Support Manager | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.4% Female, 17.6% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 11.1% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 11% |