Project manager job outlook
Manage risk, drive results, and become indispensable in any industry
- 33% growth in project management job opportunities through 20271
- 2.1 million new jobs from 2017 to 20272
- 23% higher average salary earned by professionals with Project Management Professional (PMP) certification compared to those without PMP certification3
- $112,000 median annual salary across industries in the United States3
Whether you're just starting out or you're a veteran looking to add versatility to your professional career, project management is adaptable across industries, pays well, and is projected to grow.
Project managers work across functions to launch new products, develop new applications and technology, and implement new standards and practices that improve productivity and reduce inefficiencies. That's why the project manager job outlook is favorable. Project managers are highly paid, and employed in virtually all industries, from agriculture to aeronautics, banking to biomed, insurance to retail, and even zoology.
“The professors are very knowledgeable, and all have the same aim to see you succeed. Project Management is a growing field and is becoming widely recognized as important to companies.”
– Teresa Bierbaum, Project Management, M.S. ’20
Highly Paid Across Industries3
(Median salary reported for the United States only)
INDUSTRY | PROJECT MANAGER MEDIAN SALARY |
Pharmaceutical | $129,000 |
Agriculture, Mining, and Natural Resources | $130,000 |
Consulting | $125,000 |
Aerospace | $118,000 |
Engineering | $117,500 |
Utility | $117,875 |
Government | $113,875 |
Information Technology | $114,000 |
Project Manager Career Outlook
Project managers are employed across all industries and, for their ability to support senior-level roles, are highly sought after and often an indispensable part of the team. Explore the project manager career outlook below.
Construction Project Manager
Construction project managers are responsible for coordinating the planning, budget, and execution of large-scale construction projects—including mitigating risk, ensuring projects are completed on time, and abiding by all regulatory standards.
Median salary: $93,3704
IT Project Manager
Develop plans to assist organizations in finding, buying, and administering the technology and networking they need to succeed. Evaluate scope and budget to ensure implementation runs smoothly. Develop long-term adaptation plans as technology evolves.
Median salary: $87,4465
Director of Project Management
As a senior level role, a director of project management will often manage a team of project management professionals, ensuring all active projects are on track, on budget, and within a previously defined scope—helping define and implement these parameters as projects develop.
Median salary: $123,2536
Risk Manager
A particularly valuable position to the bottom line, risk managers help companies evaluate and avoid risk while undertaking projects and delivering work. Analyzing trends, cost projections, and other statistical data, risk managers protect budgets and ensure a smooth process from planning through execution.
Median salary: $113,3127
Logistics Manager
Logistics managers oversee the supply chain, from warehouse inventory to shipping logistics, in order to ensure a business has the materials it needs to deliver a product or service on time. Work in logistics could also include coordinating transportation, the handling of sensitive materials, and regulatory compliance.
Median salary: $111,3888
Program Outcomes: Ready to Drive Results
No matter what stage of your career you are currently in, our online Master of Science in Project Management degree will enable you to become more effective in your professional endeavors and take on diverse roles and responsibilities as a project manager.
- Initiate projects that clearly define scope and requirements, and identify all stakeholders
- Plan complex projects using appropriate planning tools, including statistical models
- Implement quality control processes throughout project phases, using qualitative and statistical tools to measure conformance
- Manage project risk by evaluating the probability and consequences of risks and estimating their implications for project objectives
- Manage project costs, including the procurement process for project resources
- Incorporate a global perspective into projects and address cross-cultural, social, and political issues that impact projects
- Work effectively with diverse populations and demonstrate respectful engagement with others' ideas, behaviors, and beliefs
- Lead complex projects and apply knowledge and understanding of principles, theories, and concepts to project situations
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing by determining the needs of the stakeholders and delivering project status with clarity and coherence
- Incorporate an ethical perspective in all professional activities, abiding legal requirements and a professional code of ethics
You'll also be prepared to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam and learn industry standards aligned with PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).