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Test manager vs project manager

The differences between test managers and project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a test manager has an average salary of $92,297, which is higher than the $91,578 average annual salary of a project manager.

The top three skills for a test manager include QA, project management and java. The most important skills for a project manager are project management, project scope, and customer service.

Test manager vs project manager overview

Test ManagerProject Manager
Yearly salary$92,297$91,578
Hourly rate$44.37$44.03
Growth rate-8%
Number of jobs27,489167,116
Job satisfaction-4.17
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4447
Years of experience4-

What does a test manager do?

A test manager is responsible for supervising the content of test activities and ensuring that the scope meets the test requirements. Test managers monitor the test process and determine the accurate strategies to establish efficient methods for the success of test deliveries. They also identify the resources according to quality standards and budget limitations. A test manager oversees the technical controls of the test processes and measures the quality of tools and applications for optimal automation.

What does a project manager do?

Project managers oversee a specific project related to the organization's business. They manage the whole project from inception to evaluation. They initiate planning with involved departments, follow-through on the plans, ensure smooth execution of the plans, and evaluate the project for further improvements should these be needed. In line with this, project managers also ensure that the project is cost-efficient and well within the budget. They also manage the different work teams involved in the project and ensure that things are running smoothly on this aspect as well.

Test manager vs project manager salary

Test managers and project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Test ManagerProject Manager
Average salary$92,297$91,578
Salary rangeBetween $71,000 And $119,000Between $64,000 And $129,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaThe Citadel
Best paying industryAutomotiveTechnology

Differences between test manager and project manager education

There are a few differences between a test manager and a project manager in terms of educational background:

Test ManagerProject Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Test manager vs project manager demographics

Here are the differences between test managers' and project managers' demographics:

Test ManagerProject Manager
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 71.7% Female, 28.3%Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1%
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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage11%10%

Differences between test manager and project manager duties and responsibilities

Test manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead test team in delivery of the NAS windows product within the project schedule.
  • Manage and implement a successful peer-base HIV counseling & testing program for gay/bisexual men.
  • Lead weekly integration testing status meetings with testing team, PMO, CIO, and CFO.
  • Manage execution of manual and automate test cases for functional, performance, load, integration, UAT and infrastructure testing.
  • Create XML billing input files for the expected products in UNIX environment.
  • Verify the requirements in JIRA and assign test cases to the team base on the release.
    • Show more

Project manager example responsibilities.

  • Schedule and manage the GCP audit process.
  • Define, develop and manage metrics and KPIs systems for new product business group.
  • Manage the application process for the FDA medical device, minority and small business certifications.
  • Manage multiple projects and resources simultaneously while mentoring, coaching and implementing best practices, SOX and HIPAA compliance standards.
  • Lead teams using the Informatica ETL tool for the design and development of multiple financial and risk enterprise data warehouses.
  • Administer and manage Salesforce requirements.
    • Show more

Test manager vs project manager skills

Common test manager skills
  • QA, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Java, 5%
  • Test Plan, 4%
  • UAT, 4%
  • Test Cases, 4%
Common project manager skills
  • Project Management, 23%
  • Project Scope, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Infrastructure, 5%
  • Status Reports, 4%
  • Risk Management, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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