How to Become a Project Manager
Own schedules, budgets, and teams so projects actually ship, one of the most transferable careers in business. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $102,320 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$102,320/yr
Middle half
$78,440 to $133,100
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
78,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Project Planning
- Risk Management
- Stakeholder Communication
- Budgeting
- Leadership
Helpful certifications
- PMP (Project Management Professional)
- CAPM
- Certified ScrumMaster
Related careers
- Entrepreneur / Business Founder$213,990 median
- Human Resources Manager$149,280 median
- Sales Manager$148,270 median
- Purchasing Manager$148,080 median
- Fundraising Manager$125,470 median
- Administrative Services Manager$114,130 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Project Manager make?
The median pay for a Project Manager is $102,320 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $78,440 and $133,100 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Project Manager?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Business Administration, Management, Industrial Engineering, and Communications.
Is Project Manager a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 78,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Project Manager use most?
Common skills for this role are Project Planning, Risk Management, Stakeholder Communication, Budgeting, and Leadership.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).