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The differences between technical project managers and technical team leads 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 a technical team lead takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a technical project manager has an average salary of $108,205, which is higher than the $90,219 average annual salary of a technical team lead.
The top three skills for a technical project manager include project management, technical project and scrum. The most important skills for a technical team lead are customer service, patients, and java.
| Technical Project Manager | Technical Team Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $108,205 | $90,219 |
| Hourly rate | $52.02 | $43.37 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 209,820 | 254,215 |
| Job satisfaction | 1 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
The responsibilities of a technical team lead revolve around overseeing the progress and performance of a technical team, ensuring they are functioning efficiently. They mostly delegate tasks, manage schedules, set goals, produce reports and presentations, respond to correspondence, and coordinate with staff, clients, and other department personnel to ensure accuracy and timeliness for all projects. As the leader, it is crucial to implement the policies and regulations of the company, all while leading and encouraging the staff to reach goals.
Technical project managers and technical team leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Project Manager | Technical Team Lead | |
| Average salary | $108,205 | $90,219 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $142,000 | Between $66,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a technical project manager and a technical team lead in terms of educational background:
| Technical Project Manager | Technical Team Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between technical project managers' and technical team leads' demographics:
| Technical Project Manager | Technical Team Lead | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 14.5% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |