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Technology strategist vs technical manager

The differences between technology strategists and technical 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 a technical manager takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a technology strategist has an average salary of $138,362, which is higher than the $116,619 average annual salary of a technical manager.

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

Technology strategist vs technical manager overview

Technology StrategistTechnical Manager
Yearly salary$138,362$116,619
Hourly rate$66.52$56.07
Growth rate16%8%
Number of jobs67,147116,732
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4740
Years of experience82

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 a technical manager do?

A technical manager is responsible for maintaining the company's information systems database and analyzing technology system matters to ensure its efficiency and accuracy in supporting business operations. Technical managers perform network checks regularly to assess any possible malfunctions that might compromise the company's cybersecurity. They carefully analyze business and clients' specifications on working with systems integration, responding to end-users' concerns and inquiries. A technical manager must have excellent knowledge of the information technology systems industry, as well as a strong command on network codes to conduct adjustments and manage network infrastructure.

Technology strategist vs technical manager salary

Technology strategists and technical managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Technology StrategistTechnical Manager
Average salary$138,362$116,619
Salary rangeBetween $95,000 And $200,000Between $84,000 And $161,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaA.T. Kearney
Best paying industryInsuranceManufacturing

Differences between technology strategist and technical manager education

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

Technology StrategistTechnical Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Technology strategist vs technical manager demographics

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

Technology StrategistTechnical Manager
Average age4740
Gender ratioMale, 82.9% Female, 17.1%Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3%
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, 8.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%14%

Differences between technology strategist and technical 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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Technical manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead efforts to establish asset and desktop /server management best practices.
  • Provide project management and KPIs development to ensure service levels are achieve and improve upon.
  • Project manage WebEx's customer call flow (IVRU) structure to meet both business and customer needs.
  • Lead project to implement Salesforce.com.
  • Manage high level support resources and evaluate XML technology against business requirements.
  • Optimize chemical formulas, manage chemical supply chain, troubleshoot laboratory and plant implementation.
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Technology strategist vs technical manager skills

Common technology strategist skills
  • Digital Transformation, 25%
  • Azure, 11%
  • Architecture, 10%
  • Healthcare, 6%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Business Value, 4%
Common technical manager skills
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Infrastructure, 6%
  • Architecture, 6%
  • Java, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Emerging Technologies, 4%

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