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Technical team lead education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a technical team lead. Technical team leads usually study business, computer science, or electrical engineering. 52% of technical team leads hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 10,350 real technical team lead resumes to see exactly what technical team lead education sections show.

The most common colleges for technical team leads are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online technical team lead courses to help get the education required to be a technical team lead.

There are certain technical team lead certifications that you should consider. These technical team lead certifications include Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).

What education do you need to become a technical team lead?

What degree do you need to be a technical team lead?

The most common degree for technical team leads is bachelor's degree, with 52% of technical team leads earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 20% and associate degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 52%
  • Associate, 20%
  • Master's, 11%
  • High School Diploma, 10%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a technical team lead?

You should major in business to become a technical team lead. 17% of technical team leads major in business. Other common majors for a technical team lead include computer science and electrical engineering.

Most common colleges for technical team leads

Technical team leads often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and University of Maryland - College Park. Here are the most common colleges for technical team leads in the US based on their resumes.
Technical team lead common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix14.40%
DeVry University7.61%
University of Maryland - College Park7.41%
Strayer University6.58%
Texas A&M University5.76%

Best majors for technical team leads

Best colleges for technical team leads

The best colleges for technical team leads are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A technical team lead with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for technical team leads. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become technical team leads.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME • Private

In-state tuition

$13,478

Enrollment

979

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

8. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

10. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

20 best online courses for technical team leads

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1. Challenges of Leading Technical Teams

coursera

Great Leaders lead by example. They protect their team members, empower them, and help them to improve and grow while the team members, in turn, help the organization improve and grow. Working together with the team, they envision what the organization could be and inspire others to help execute the strategy that will take them there. Many times, they see their team members as more of a family than simply as business acquaintances. This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU...

2. Principles of Leadership: Leading Technical Teams

coursera

This class is about becoming a Great Leader. Great Leaders know how to hire great individuals, form and empower great teams, and delegate to those teams appropriately. Working together with the team, they envision what the organization could be and inspire others to help execute the strategy that will take them there. They protect their team members, empower them, and help them to improve and grow while the team members, in turn, help the organization improve and grow. Great Leaders’ ambition...

3. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp

udemy
4.5
(1,653)

Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Professionals...

4. Technical Writing: How to Write Using DITA XML

udemy
4.5
(742)

How to Become a Modern and Successful Technical Writer Using DITA XML...

5. Introduction to Technical Support

coursera

Technical Support professionals are in great demand! This is the first course in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate program, designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in technical support. You will begin this self-paced course by learning what Informational Technology (IT) support is all about. You'll find out the roles and responsibilities of Technical Support professionals and become familiar with all the different career paths you can take in Technical Support. You will also...

6. Principles of Leadership: Leading Technical Organizations

coursera

This specialization explores how a leader multiplies their abilities by leading through others and that one's executive presence is essential to be a leader of leaders. The first key to success is building a team of exceptional, diverse leaders who are deeply involved in talent acquisition, development and retention activities. Learners will study how organizational leaders use different decision-making processes for different situations and that they are ultimately accountable for all results...

7. PL/SQL by Example - Beginner to Advanced PL/SQL

udemy
4.5
(13,982)

Using PL/SQL learn how to combine the efficiency of SQL & Procedural Language(PL) to build a powerful PL/SQL Application...

8. Leadership: New Manager Training for Technical Professionals

udemy
4.2
(766)

Learn to establish yourself as a manager and lead your technical team to success. We are PDU Accredited...

9. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk

udemy
4.7
(1,561)

Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Learners...

10. Mastering PL/SQL

udemy
4.2
(269)

Simplified way to learn PL/SQL...

11. Learn API Technical Writing: JSON and XML for Writers

udemy
4.5
(10,540)

API Documentation 1: Teaches technical writers how to document structured data. No programming experience required...

12. IT & Technical Support Guide to Helpdesk, Desktop & Servers

udemy
4.2
(1,138)

Learn how the different levels of IT technical support work, from service desk to infrastructure and server support...

13. IT Business Analyst & Project Managers Technical awareness

udemy
4.5
(799)

A quick introduction to software development & IT for business analyst and non technical managers overseeing IT teams...

14. Oracle PL/SQL Fundamentals vol. I & II

udemy
4.6
(5,398)

A complete introduction to PL/SQL database programming language...

15. The Complete PL/SQL Bootcamp: Beginner to Advanced PL/SQL

udemy
4.5
(13,873)

A Comprehensive Guide to Make You a Job-Ready PL/SQL Developer.Also Covers Oracle 1Z0-144 and 1Z0-149 PL SQL Exam Topics...

16. Technical Product Management: learn on 4 real industry cases

udemy
4.3
(930)

Boost your technicality (as a PM) or tech product skills (as an engineer) to grow in your current role...

17. Technical Analysis: Trading Smart With Technical Analysis

udemy
4.9
(289)

Master Real-World Technical Analysis: Revolutionize Your Trading Game & Profit In Stocks, Forex & Crypto!...

18. Technical Writing: How to Write Software Documentation

udemy
4.4
(1,983)

Learn a proven strategy for writing software docu in Git Hub wiki based on the 12 main principles of technical writing!...

19. Learn Oracle PL/SQL - A Comprehensive Training Course

udemy
4.5
(397)

A Comprehensive Oracle PL/SQL Course Taught By Infinite Skills...

20. Form Your Virtual Team & Lead Your Virtual Team

udemy
4.5
(3,629)

These days everything's moving online, even your team. Learn what it takes to form your team & lead, virtual style...

Top 10 most affordable universities for technical team leads

The most affordable schools for technical team leads are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for technical team leads are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for technical team leads.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

8. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Cost of attendance

22,990

10. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for technical team leads

The hardest universities for technical team leads to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for technical team leads are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for technical team leads based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

8. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

10. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for technical team leads

The easiest schools for technical team leads to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a technical team lead without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for technical team leads.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

8. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

9. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average technical team lead salary by education level

According to our data, technical team leads with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $107,769 annually. Technical team leads with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $103,044.
Technical team lead education levelTechnical team lead salary
Master's Degree$107,769
High School Diploma or Less$84,628
Bachelor's Degree$94,134
Doctorate Degree$103,044
Some College/ Associate Degree$86,413

Technical team lead education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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