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The differences between technical managers and technical project 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 a technical project manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a technical manager has an average salary of $116,619, which is higher than the $108,205 average annual salary of a technical project manager.
The top three skills for a technical manager include project management, infrastructure and architecture. The most important skills for a technical project manager are project management, technical project, and scrum.
| Technical Manager | Technical Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $116,619 | $108,205 |
| Hourly rate | $56.07 | $52.02 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 116,732 | 209,820 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 1 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
The role of technical project managers is to oversee the planning and management of projects within a company. They are considered as the lead subject matter expert in terms of technology concerns. They have varied duties that include ensuring the completion of projects within an established budget and time frame, hiring and training support members, and improving resource management and project planning. They also communicate with stakeholders and collaborate with other departments, all to attain a common goal.
Technical managers and technical project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Manager | Technical Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $116,619 | $108,205 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $161,000 | Between $81,000 And $142,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | A.T. Kearney | Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a technical manager and a technical project manager in terms of educational background:
| Technical Manager | Technical Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between technical managers' and technical project managers' demographics:
| Technical Manager | Technical Project Manager | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| 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, 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 | 14% | 11% |