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The differences between technical managers and engineering managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a technical manager, becoming an engineering manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, an engineering manager has an average salary of $139,328, which is higher than the $116,619 average annual salary of a technical manager.
The top three skills for a technical manager include project management, infrastructure and architecture. The most important skills for an engineering manager are java, project management, and continuous improvement.
| Technical Manager | Engineering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $116,619 | $139,328 |
| Hourly rate | $56.07 | $66.98 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 116,732 | 67,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 40 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A technical manager is responsible for maintaining the company's information systems database and analyzing technology system matters to ensure its efficiency and accuracy in supporting business operations. Technical managers perform network checks regularly to assess any possible malfunctions that might compromise the company's cybersecurity. They carefully analyze business and clients' specifications on working with systems integration, responding to end-users' concerns and inquiries. A technical manager must have excellent knowledge of the information technology systems industry, as well as a strong command on network codes to conduct adjustments and manage network infrastructure.
An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed. An engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of engineering disciplines, as well as leadership and communication skills, monitoring the team's performance throughout the project.
Technical managers and engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Manager | Engineering Manager | |
| Average salary | $116,619 | $139,328 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $161,000 | Between $99,000 And $195,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | A.T. Kearney | Mixpanel |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a technical manager and an engineering manager in terms of educational background:
| Technical Manager | Engineering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between technical managers' and engineering managers' demographics:
| Technical Manager | Engineering Manager | |
| Average age | 40 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.2% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 9% |