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Technical project manager vs engineering manager

The differences between technical project managers and engineering managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a technical project 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 $108,205 average annual salary of a technical project manager.

The top three skills for a technical project manager include project management, technical project and scrum. The most important skills for an engineering manager are java, project management, and continuous improvement.

Technical project manager vs engineering manager overview

Technical Project ManagerEngineering Manager
Yearly salary$108,205$139,328
Hourly rate$52.02$66.98
Growth rate16%2%
Number of jobs209,82067,124
Job satisfaction14.33
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4448
Years of experience6-

What does a technical project manager do?

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.

What does an engineering manager do?

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 project manager vs engineering manager salary

Technical project managers and engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Technical Project ManagerEngineering Manager
Average salary$108,205$139,328
Salary rangeBetween $81,000 And $142,000Between $99,000 And $195,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companySheppard Mullin Richter & HamptonMixpanel
Best paying industryFinanceAutomotive

Differences between technical project manager and engineering manager education

There are a few differences between a technical project manager and an engineering manager in terms of educational background:

Technical Project ManagerEngineering Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorBusinessMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Technical project manager vs engineering manager demographics

Here are the differences between technical project managers' and engineering managers' demographics:

Technical Project ManagerEngineering Manager
Average age4448
Gender ratioMale, 73.2% Female, 26.8%Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage11%9%

Differences between technical project manager and engineering manager duties and responsibilities

Technical project manager example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage project plan with PeopleSoft support team.
  • Manage development through launch of first-ever Microsoft OS touchscreen and keyboard smartphone.
  • Lead the complete system re-write of the mission critical enterprise POS retail system.
  • Manage the daily operations and support of the legacy systems while PeopleSoft are implemented.
  • Help manage the project to install a new Cisco VOIP solution for the entire district.
  • Manage, analyze, and enhance pricing program operational control processes and develop SOX controls and documentation over this process.
  • Show more

Engineering manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead design and manage development of voice-processing system's SNMP device agent and Java management application.
  • Manage multiple teams of UNIX engineers and software developers.
  • Achieve the highest ROI of any of the company's online or offline marketing channels.
  • Manage geotechnical, environmental, and survey consultants in connection with due diligence for new stores.
  • Manage tool implementation on change, problem, configuration management, product structure, and visualization processes.
  • Lead cross-functional team to track and address end-of-life component issues, which greatly reduce line shortages or stoppages.Sr.
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Technical project manager vs engineering manager skills

Common technical project manager skills
  • Project Management, 15%
  • Technical Project, 10%
  • Scrum, 7%
  • Infrastructure, 5%
  • Jira, 5%
  • Software Development, 4%
Common engineering manager skills
  • Java, 11%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Continuous Improvement, 6%
  • Software Development, 4%
  • C++, 4%
  • UL, 4%

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