Program Manager vs. Project Manager: Understanding the Differences

An organization may employ program managers and project managers to help drive it toward success. Although people often conflate these two roles because of their similar titles and interconnectedness, they are distinct. Program and project managers are focused on different goals and have different day-to-day responsibilities.

Individuals interested in earning a degree in organizational leadership and pursuing a career in this area should understand the differences between the program manager vs. project manager roles as well as how the roles relate. This knowledge can help them choose the best career path.

What Is a Program Manager?

Program managers focus on a company’s big-picture objectives to improve workflow and maximize output. They are responsible for assessing and sharing how program initiatives influence the business and helping outline short- and long-term strategies that contribute to program goals. One program may be made up of many individual projects.

Primary Responsibilities of a Program Manager

Though a program manager’s responsibilities will vary depending on their industry, common duties include the following:

• Outlining company objectives and developing strategies to reach those objectives
• Establishing specific project teams and delegating short-term tasks to them
• Providing high-level oversight of individual projects to ensure they are on track
• Supporting and managing multiple project managers
• Evaluating return on investment (ROI) of projects and the success/failure of the overall program

What Is a Project Manager?

A project manager oversees an individual project within a program. Project managers ensure their team’s deliverables meet deadlines and align with the project’s desired goals and the program’s vision. They often report to a program manager.

Primary Responsibilities of a Project Manager

A project manager’s day-to-day tasks can look quite different depending on the project. However, their primary duties will remain fairly consistent. Project managers are responsible for the following:

• Planning and executing a project while remaining within budget
• Communicating project expectations and goals
• Delegating project tasks to appropriate team personnel
• Monitoring project progress to meet due dates

Program Manager vs. Project Manager Differences

Because program and project manager roles are related and their names are similar, there is often confusion about how the two positions are different. However, several noteworthy distinctions exist.

Focus and Goals

One of the primary differences between program managers and project managers is that program managers generally have a more strategic role. They oversee a group of projects that come together to further the goals of the program (and, ultimately, the organization). Program managers hone in on a company’s long-term objectives. Project managers, on the other hand, are focused on completing short-term assignments for individual projects. They have more task-oriented roles.

Once a project manager has delivered their team’s project, that assignment is typically the end of their involvement with a program. On the other hand, a program manager will guide the program through all of its phases.

Job Responsibilities

The job responsibilities typically associated with each role reflect the strategic vs. task-oriented nature of the two management positions. This difference is best illustrated by using a real-world example. Consider the different responsibilities of a program manager vs. a project manager in marketing.

A marketing program manager is responsible for outlining and achieving long-term marketing goals for an organization. They communicate with other areas of the business (e.g., sales, product, customer support, etc.) to make sure the marketing initiatives are aligned with and serve the broader organizational goals. They create project plans, set up project teams, assign resources, and measure program results. A marketing program manager may ultimately be responsible for many areas of marketing, from email marketing to search engine optimization (SEO) to public relations.

An email marketing project manager may be one of the project managers reporting to the marketing program manager. They are responsible for specific tasks related to email marketing, including customer segmentation, email content creation, email marketing platform selection, and response rate analysis. The email marketing project manager often works with their own email marketing team.

Salary and Job Outlook

For individuals considering program management vs. project management careers, it’s important to have appropriate salary and job outlook expectations. Although there are slight differences worth reviewing, both areas have a promising outlook and provide the opportunity to earn competitive wages.

Program Manager vs. Project Manager Salary

Payscale reports a median annual salary of about $92,200 for a program manager as of December 2024, with a range of $60,000 to $138,000. For project managers, Payscale reports a median annual salary of about $80,760, with a range of $54,000 to $121,000.

Skills and experience influence salaries, as does the industry in which the individual works. The large ranges suggest there are strong opportunities for growth within the role.

Program Manager vs. Project Manager Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that all management occupations are projected to grow by 9% between 2022 and 2023, which is much faster than the 4% growth rate for all occupations. More specifically, the projected growth rate for program manager jobs through 2028 is 12%, per Zippia’s data research. Zippia anticipates employment of project managers to grow 16% during this same time frame.

Develop Your Organizational Leadership Skills

Program managers and project managers are both integral to an organization successfully meeting its goals. Whichever role you prefer, getting the proper education is an important first step.

An online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) can equip you with the knowledge, skills, and experience to help you pursue your professional goals. CLU’s program is customizable, with four concentrations to choose from. Future program managers and project managers may want to select the Management concentration, which includes foundational courses as well as concentration-specific courses in areas such as project management, financial management, operations management, and strategic management.

Start working on your organizational leadership career goals today.