Career comparison
IT Manager vs. Project Manager
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
IT managers earn more at the median ($175,140 vs. $102,320), while project managers usually get to work faster (1–4+ years of training). IT managers lead technology teams, budgets and strategy for an organization. Project managers plan projects, lead teams and deliver results on time, on budget and in scope.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| IT Manager | Project Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $175,140 ($84.20/hr) | $102,320 ($49.19/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $107,550 – $297,510 | $61,580 – $167,970 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +15.8% (much faster than average) | +6.7% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 53,500 | 76,500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | Bachelor’s plus 5+ years of IT experience | 1–4+ years |
| Key credential | Project Management Professional (PMP) | PMP (PMI) |
| Work setting | IT managers work in offices, often in hybrid arrangements, with frequent meetings and on-call responsibility for major incidents.. | Project managers work in offices, on job sites or remotely, depending on the industry. |
What each job does
IT Manager
- Lead and develop IT staff
- Plan technology strategy and budgets
- Manage infrastructure, security and applications
- Select and manage vendors
- Lead IT projects
Project Manager
- Define project scope, goals and deliverables
- Build schedules, budgets and resource plans
- Coordinate team members, vendors and stakeholders
- Track progress and manage risks and issues
- Manage changes to scope, time and cost
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, desk work, teamwork, and problem-solving. They sit in different fields, technology and business & office, but share transferable skills such as leadership and leadership.
Which should you choose?
Choose IT manager if…
- I like leading people
- I understand technology deeply
- I can make tough budget decisions
Choose project manager if…
- I like organizing people and plans
- I’m comfortable being accountable for results
- I communicate clearly and handle conflict
Still torn? Take the IT Manager fit quiz and the Project Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, IT manager or project manager?
IT Managers earn more at the median: $175,140 versus $102,320 for project managers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Project Managers typically train faster (1–4+ years) than IT managers (Bachelor’s plus 5+ years of IT experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects IT managers to grow +15.8% from 2025–35, compared with +6.7% for project managers.