The Project Manager Salary: What to Expect and How to Earn More

You wouldn’t start driving without knowing your destination. The same applies to our careers and financial future. Understanding earning potential provides direction when entering a new field or negotiating a salary increase.

This article covers insights into the project manager salary across career stages and how to maximize your earning potential.

The Current & Future State of Project Management

According to The Future of Jobs Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, project management is among the top 15 growing occupations globally. The WEF estimates that about 2 million new project manager jobs will open between 2025 and 2030.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the employment of project managers will grow by 7% between 2023 and 2033. Since the average growth rate of all occupations is 4%, the future of project management is bright.

Today, the job market is complex, competitive, and challenging for all job seekers. However, project management jobs are available. On LinkedIn, the phrase ‘project management’ generated 55,824 job results in the U.S. alone.

Based on these factors, project management is an excellent career choice for those considering the field. However, salary is also a critical factor when choosing a career. Read on to find out if the role matches your financial needs.

The Average Project Manager Salary at Every Level

Before embarking on a new career path, it’s advisable to research all aspects of the career’s trajectory. Understanding the average project manager's salary at every level will help you plan for your financial future.

Important note: Project manager titles and salaries vary. The titles listed in this section are generalized to provide an overview of salary potential in project management. Titles and salaries in project management are contingent on various factors, including the hiring organization, geographical location, project scope, responsibilities, and experience.

Entry-Level Project Manager Salary

According to Indeed, the average base salary for an entry-level project manager in the United States is $62,254 (as of December 2024). Other entry-level titles include assistant project manager or project coordinator.

Average education & experience:

Bachelor’s degree
0-2 years of experience
Applicable internships (optional)
Applicable certifications (optional)

Associate Project Manager Salary

According to Indeed, the average base salary for an associate project manager in the United States is $70,462 (as of December 2024).

Average education & experience:

Bachelor’s degree
1-2 years of experience
Project management portfolio (recommended)
Applicable certifications (recommended)

Project Manager Salary

According to Indeed, the average base salary for a project manager in the United States is $90,560 (as of December 2024).

Average education & experience:

Bachelor’s degree
2-4 years of experience
Demonstrated project management portfolio
Demonstrated management experience
Applicable certifications (preferred)

Senior Project Manager Salary

According to Indeed, the average base salary for a senior project manager in the United States is $122,337 (as of December 2024).

Average education & experience:

Bachelor’s degree
5-7 years of experience
Demonstrated project management portfolio
Demonstrated management experience
Applicable certifications (preferred)

Skills Needed for a Career in Project Management

Project management requires a combination of soft, hard, and technical skills. With career progression, a project manager builds competency in several areas, including:

Project planning & execution
Agile delivery management
Risk management
Resource management
Portfolio management
Time management
Collaboration & communication
Adaptability & problem-solving

How To Increase Your Project Manager Salary

Averages are a good indicator of the salary you can command at each career stage. This section provides two ways to help you negotiate a higher rate.

Specialize

Specializing in a particular area or methodology within project management sets you apart from other candidates–and can help you command a higher salary.

For example, let’s say an agile project manager specializes in following agile methodology for project management. Agile project management offers unique benefits to organizations, such as improved team productivity, faster time to market, and more opportunities to collect feedback and pivot.

A recent Forbes article explores the trend of skills-based hiring instead of focusing on formal education. Employers are learning that specialized skills are high-value and lead to positive results.

Earn a Project Management Certification

Earning project management certifications in your chosen area of specialization is an excellent way to demonstrate your expertise and commitment to potential employers.

For instance, our Agile Project and Delivery Management certification course is designed for project managers who want to specialize in agile project management. The course provides students with immediate experience in:

Taking an iterative approach to project management
Supporting agile teams through the project lifecycle
How to define and monitor project success
System and process optimization

Learn more about the course by downloading the Agile Project and Delivery Management learning outcomes.

Conclusion

Project management is a growing field that offers opportunities to earn more at every career stage. Project managers can choose a specialization and earn related certifications for a competitive edge and higher salary potential.

Are you seeking an agile project management certification to help boost internal results and your earning potential? Find a class today.

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The Project Manager Salary: What to Expect and How to Earn More

The Current & Future State of Project Management