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Technology strategist vs information technology project manager

The differences between technology strategists and information technology project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a technology strategist, becoming an information technology project manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a technology strategist has an average salary of $138,362, which is higher than the $106,981 average annual salary of an information technology project manager.

The top three skills for a technology strategist include digital transformation, azure and architecture. The most important skills for an information technology project manager are project management, infrastructure, and scrum.

Technology strategist vs information technology project manager overview

Technology StrategistInformation Technology Project Manager
Yearly salary$138,362$106,981
Hourly rate$66.52$51.43
Growth rate16%-
Number of jobs67,147207,249
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4744
Years of experience86

What does a technology strategist do?

A technology strategist spearheads the development of a company's technological structures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around conducting research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a company's information technology systems, designing and implementing strategies to optimize operations, coordinating with different departments to identify their needs, and assessing existing structures to recommend enhancement for optimal quality. Furthermore, a technology strategist may provide technical support and mentor staff, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations when it comes to information technology.

What does an information technology project manager do?

An information technology project manager is responsible for supervising the technology department, ensuring that all tasks are being done by following technological strategies and solutions. Information technology project managers' duties include monitoring the technology team's daily operation, handling team members' concerns, managing customers' inquiries and complaints, helping team members' in achieving their professional growth, creating reports, sharing updates during team and board meetings, and maintaining effectivity of operational procedures. An information technology project manager must have excellent leadership and decision-making skills to decide on the best strategies in meeting the company's objectives.

Technology strategist vs information technology project manager salary

Technology strategists and information technology project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Technology StrategistInformation Technology Project Manager
Average salary$138,362$106,981
Salary rangeBetween $95,000 And $200,000Between $76,000 And $149,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAMenlo Park, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaReed Smith
Best paying industryInsuranceTechnology

Differences between technology strategist and information technology project manager education

There are a few differences between a technology strategist and an information technology project manager in terms of educational background:

Technology StrategistInformation Technology Project Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityStanford University

Technology strategist vs information technology project manager demographics

Here are the differences between technology strategists' and information technology project managers' demographics:

Technology StrategistInformation Technology Project Manager
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 82.9% Female, 17.1%Male, 66.4% Female, 33.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 14.0% White, 64.1% 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between technology strategist and information technology project manager duties and responsibilities

Technology strategist example responsibilities.

  • Lead software vendor evaluations, RFP process, selections and negotiations.
  • Switch data network from frame relay to manage internet with VPN.
  • Manage a team of programmers in administering human resources and payroll processes for 6000 employees.
  • Lead a series of enterprise OS upgrades and applications enhancements to replace lease terminal device services.
  • Maintain all departmental training documents and manage escalated tickets queues to ensure timely resolutions while exceeding SLA's.
  • Manage service and maintenance subcontractors for diesel generators, fire alarms, building automation, security and HVAC systems.
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Information technology project manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage schedules, payroll, and customer relations for all subordinates.
  • Prepare detailed work breakdown structures (WBS) and instill shared accountability for achieving project milestones.
  • Project hardware and software resources are manage through accurate control of notebook, desktop and remote server master build configurations.
  • Manage change windows and verify impact to production environment.
  • Manage Java development team in translating functional specifications into J2EE application.
  • Manage approximately twenty small/medium EDI projects simultaneously for national medical insurance providers for transportation.
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Technology strategist vs information technology project manager skills

Common technology strategist skills
  • Digital Transformation, 25%
  • Azure, 11%
  • Architecture, 10%
  • Healthcare, 6%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Business Value, 4%
Common information technology project manager skills
  • Project Management, 16%
  • Infrastructure, 7%
  • Scrum, 5%
  • Software Development, 4%
  • Project Scope, 4%
  • Risk Management, 3%

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