Project Manager Job Description - Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Project Manager

Today's business projects are often complex, involving numerous professionals and support staff. A project manager coordinates the work of all these people and oversees the project, ensuring that it runs smoothly, remains in budget and meets deadlines.

Job Description

Project manager jobs involve every aspect of an ongoing project, from its creation to its completion. The many responsibilities of a project manager include:
  • application of company methodology
  • assigning individual responsibilities
  • coordinating work, both within the team and with outside contractors
  • creation of project work plans
  • enforcement of project standards through quality-assurance procedures
  • ensuring project documents are complete, current and stored appropriately
  • execution of project work plans with team through delegation
  • identification and purchase of needed resources
  • management of day-to-day project operations
  • minimization of exposure and risk on a project
  • review of deliverables prepared by team before passing them to clients
  • revision as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements.
 
Working conditions for a project manager can vary greatly depending on the chosen project industry. While many project managers work in corporate business environments, they are also employed in architecture, construction, engineering, information technology and many other industries. A project manager's workplace may be a construction site, a laboratory or an office.

Salary Guide

The median project manager salary in the United States is $96,000. Salary for project managers can vary greatly depending on education, experience and employer.

Education and Training

Project managers usually need at least a bachelor's degree, and some employers favor higher education. Many colleges now offer a master's degree in project management, while other schools offer project management courses and certificates. A project management degree involves study in:
  • cost-benefit analysis
  • decision science
  • ethics
  • mathematics
  • planning
  • statistical analysis
  • team building.
 
Students must also perfect their oral and written communications skills. In addition to education, certification from a professional organization is a desirable credential.
 
It is not always necessary to earn a project management or similar degree. While many people become project managers with related degrees in business or management, a degree in the specific area of the project to be managed can also be helpful or even preferable.

Prior Work Experience

Project management experience is preferred by most employers. However, any work experience showing leadership is advantageous. Project managers should ideally have some work experience in the field of the project.

Career Advancement

Project managers can advance their careers through networking and involvement in local professional associations, especially if they plan to become self-employed as independent contractors. In addition to owning a project management business, project managers can also be promoted to upper-management executive positions or teach project management at a university level.

Related Associations and Groups

For more information on project management careers, you may want to contact:
  • American Society for the Advancement of Project Management
  • Project Management Institute
  • Telecommunications Project Management Association.
 
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