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Technical project manager vs program/project manager

The differences between technical project managers and program/project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a technical project manager has an average salary of $108,205, which is higher than the $101,850 average annual salary of a program/project manager.

The top three skills for a technical project manager include project management, technical project and scrum. The most important skills for a program/project manager are project management, program management, and PMP.

Technical project manager vs program/project manager overview

Technical Project ManagerProgram/Project Manager
Yearly salary$108,205$101,850
Hourly rate$52.02$48.97
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs209,820243,017
Job satisfaction1-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4447
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 a program/project manager do?

The program manager and project manager are two important positions within a company that are thought to be similar. However, program managers direct diverse projects and programs while project managers head the team who is responsible for ensuring a project is completed on time and within budget. Program managers are responsible for the conveyance of the company goals and generally act as a customer interface that helps clients get their desired update and change of a project. Project managers, on the other hand, focus on the project's schedule, scope, and resources needed to complete it on time.

Technical project manager vs program/project manager salary

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

Technical Project ManagerProgram/Project Manager
Average salary$108,205$101,850
Salary rangeBetween $81,000 And $142,000Between $74,000 And $138,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companySheppard Mullin Richter & HamptonMeta
Best paying industryFinanceProfessional

Differences between technical project manager and program/project manager education

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

Technical Project ManagerProgram/Project Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Technical project manager vs program/project manager demographics

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

Technical Project ManagerProgram/Project Manager
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 73.2% Female, 26.8%Male, 62.0% Female, 38.0%
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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage11%10%

Differences between technical project manager and program/project 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

Program/project manager example responsibilities.

  • Plan and manage infrastructure installations and enterprise hardware and software upgrades of classify systems while balancing resources to manage troubleshooting/maintenance actions.
  • Facilitate daily scrum meetings and collaborate with product owners to prioritize and manage backlog.
  • Utilize SharePoint, the company's document repository engine to manage access and documentation reviews.
  • Manage, monitors and measures project portfolio status, recommending corrective action as necessary and communicate portfolio status to their management.
  • Promote to positions base on demonstrate skills in business analysis, project management, portfolio management and customer relationship management.
  • Provide program and project management support for applications and infrastructure systems monitoring as well as enhancements and maintenance of existing systems.
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Technical project manager vs program/project manager skills

Common technical project manager skills
  • Project Management, 15%
  • Technical Project, 10%
  • Scrum, 7%
  • Infrastructure, 5%
  • Jira, 5%
  • Software Development, 4%
Common program/project manager skills
  • Project Management, 18%
  • Program Management, 7%
  • PMP, 6%
  • Status Reports, 5%
  • Infrastructure, 4%
  • Portfolio, 4%

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