Project manager

What does a project manager do?

• Agree the goals, scope and expected results of a project with sponsors and clients.
• Create plans, schedules and budgets.
• Lead and coordinate project teams, suppliers and contractors.
• Identify risks and issues early and decide how to deal with them.
• Track progress and report to stakeholders.
• Manage changes to scope, cost or timing.
• Close projects and record lessons for future work.

Where do they work?

Project managers work in construction, engineering, IT, finance, healthcare, government, international development, marketing and manufacturing. Some are permanent employees, while many experienced project managers work as contractors on fixed-term projects. Most work in offices, often with hybrid arrangements, and construction or engineering roles include site visits. Pressure increases as deadlines approach, and project managers are held responsible when things go wrong.

What skills do you need?

• Planning and scheduling
• Budget and cost control
• Risk management
• Leadership and team coordination
• Stakeholder communication
• Negotiation and problem solving
• Project methods such as agile and waterfall
• Project management software

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• develop business plans
• estimate duration of work
• perform resource planning
• manage supplies
• perform project management
• manage project information
• manage logistics
• plan health and safety procedures
• apply conflict management
• create project specifications
• ensure compliance with legal requirements
• identify legal requirements

Essential knowledge: quality standards · internal risk management policy · corporate social responsibility

How do you become a project manager?

Project management is rarely a first job. Most people gain experience in a field, such as engineering, IT, marketing or administration, then take on coordination tasks and move into project roles. A degree in business, engineering, computer science or economics is common, and some universities offer degrees and master's in project management. Certifications are widely requested: examples include PMP from the Project Management Institute, which requires several years of project experience, and PRINCE2, which is popular in the UK, Europe and Australia. Entry-level certifications and agile courses can help career changers get a first coordinator role.

1. Degree and coordinator role. A degree in business, engineering, computer science or a related subject, followed by a job as a project coordinator, administrator or assistant, is a common path. You learn planning, reporting and stakeholder management while supporting experienced project managers. Promotion to project manager usually follows a few years of experience.
2. Move from a specialist role. Many project managers were engineers, developers, marketers, nurses or teachers who began to lead projects in their own field. Their technical knowledge helps them understand the work and earn the team's trust. Adding a recognised certification helps them move into full-time project roles.
3. Apprenticeship or certification route. In some countries, including the UK, you can train through a project management apprenticeship while working. Elsewhere, entry-level certifications such as CAPM or PRINCE2 Foundation, combined with any experience of organising work, can help you get a junior role. Practical experience still matters most to employers.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Business management

  A business management degree teaches how organisations are run, including strategy, marketing, finance, people management and operations.

  6 linked careers

• Civil engineering

  A civil engineering degree teaches how to design, build and maintain the structures and systems that communities depend on, such as roads, bridges, railways, buildings, water supply and flood defences.

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• Computer science

  A computer science degree teaches how software, data and computer systems work, from programming and algorithms to networks and artificial intelligence.

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• Economics

  An economics degree studies how people, businesses and governments make choices with limited resources, and how markets, money and policy affect jobs, prices and growth.

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Do you need a licence to work as a project manager?

Project management is not a regulated profession, so you do not need a licence to work as a project manager. Certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2 and agile qualifications are voluntary, although many job adverts ask for them. In some fields, the project itself must follow other regulations. For example, construction projects must meet building and safety rules, and certain approvals must be signed by licensed engineers or other regulated professionals.

How much does a project manager earn?

Pay in the United States

• $102,320Median annual wage, May 2025
• $61,580–$167,970Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 1.1MPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 13-1082, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Managers around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 1, "Managers". The table covers the whole group, which includes project manager and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Project coordinator or assistant
2. Project manager
3. Senior project manager
4. Programme manager
5. Portfolio manager or director of projects

Job outlook

Organisations increasingly organise work as projects, from infrastructure and energy to software, healthcare and public services, so project management skills are needed across the economy. Investment in digital change, renewable energy and infrastructure supports demand in many countries. AI tools can help with scheduling, reporting and risk tracking, but leading people and managing stakeholders remain human work. Demand for IT and consulting projects rises and falls with budgets, and combining industry knowledge with project skills improves your prospects.

Questions about becoming a project manager

Do you need a degree to become a project manager?

Not always. Many project managers have a degree, and some employers and sectors expect one, especially in engineering and IT. However, experience of delivering projects often matters more. People without a degree can progress through coordinator roles, apprenticeships and certifications, and build a record of successful projects.

Which project management certification is best?

It depends on where you work and in which sector. PMP is recognised internationally and is popular in North America, the Middle East and Asia. PRINCE2 is common in the UK, Europe and Australia, especially in the public sector. Agile certifications are useful in software and digital teams. Check which ones appear in job adverts in your target country.

Can you become a project manager with no experience?

It is difficult to start directly as a project manager, because employers want evidence that you can deliver. A better approach is to get a project coordinator or assistant role, or to volunteer for small projects in your current job. An entry-level certification shows interest, and experience of organising events, teams or changes also counts.

What is the difference between a project manager and a programme manager?

A project manager leads a single project with a clear goal, budget and end date. A programme manager oversees a group of related projects that together deliver a larger change or benefit, such as a new national service. Programme management is usually a more senior role that focuses on strategy, links between projects and benefits.

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Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 13-1082, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 1219.6

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become a project manager: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/project-manager/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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