Project Manager Career Path: From Entry-Level to VP

A career in project management can be a lucrative opportunity with strong job growth and industry versatility. This career path also tends to pay well. Project management specialists earn a median annual salary of $98,580, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1].

In this article, we'll discuss what a project manager career path looks like, as well as titles you may want to consider as you set about advancing. Afterward, if you're interested in getting started in project management, consider enrolling in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate, where you'll gain an immersive understanding of the practices and skills needed to succeed in an entry-level project management role.

Project manager career path

There are many options to become a project manager. Some of the important steps include developing fundamental project management skills and gaining project management experience. If you're new to the field, you may want to seek out entry-level project management roles, or if you've been working and are interested in pivoting, you may want to seek out projects at your company that will help you gain crucial experience to transition into this line of work.

Let's look at the career path in more detail, beginning with entry-level work.

1. Look for an entry-level project management job.

As you launch your project manager career path, consider spending some time in an entry-level project management position, which typically supports project managers in their efforts to oversee a project’s success. 

Common entry-level project management titles and average US base salaries:

• Project coordinator: $64,175

• Assistant project manager: $73,599

• Associate project manager: $79,529

How to become a project coordinator

If you want to be a project coordinator or work in a similar role, it’ll help to develop skills such as communication, organization, and attention to detail. You may also want to build or strengthen your knowledge of some of the more widely used project management methodologies, such as Agile or Scrum, in addition to common tools and software.

All salary information is from Glassdoor as of January 2025.

2. Gain industry experience.

If you're interested in pursuing a project management role that focuses on a particular area, such as a marketing project manager or an IT project manager, it may help to first gain industry experience. Many project managers get started in non-managerial roles and work their way up to project manager as they grow more familiar with the technical nature of their area.

For instance, a software development project manager might start out as a software developer, and a construction project manager might have some experience as a civil engineer. Finding entry-level roles in your area can give you an advantage as a project manager. You’ll understand the ins and outs of the work required, empathize with team members, and have a better grasp on how to approach a project.

3. Begin applying for project manager openings.

Project managers require around seven years of experience, though this can differ by company [2]. Once you've acquired at least a few years of experience in project management, you can begin applying for project manager roles, though more technical project management roles (in IT, for example) may require more experience.

Common entry-level project manager titles and average US base salaries:

• Project manager: $90,144

• IT project manager: $124,008

• Technical project manager: $125,425

• Construction project manager: $101,506

• Health care project manager: $125,567

All salary information is from Glassdoor as of January 2025.

4. Pursue a senior project manager role.

Senior project managers help execute projects with larger scopes, like scaling processes across teams, developing complex products, or leading projects with longer time frames. They may also oversee a small team of mid-level or junior project managers.

They generally have around 11 years of experience, though depending on the company, you may be able to qualify with fewer years [3].  

Average US base salary for senior project managers: $126,297

How to become a senior project manager

Gaining hands-on experience managing different types of projects with different people will be the main way you step into a senior position. It may also help to lead projects of various sizes.

You’ll want to prioritize gaining as much specialized knowledge of project management as you can as well, either through coursework or by certification. It's also a good idea to sharpen your leadership skills, as you’ll often be planning the work of other project managers. You can also find a mentor to help navigate your next steps.

All salary information is from Glassdoor as of January 2025.

5. Advance to director of project management.

A director of project management oversees the strategy and success of a project management division within a company. They work to ensure individual projects are aligned with the larger goals of an organization and create a blueprint for how those goals can be achieved as a project management team. They can manage multiple project managers, work cross-functionally, and interact with higher-level leaders within the organization.

Average US base salary for directors of project management: $154,674

How to become a director of project management

To advance to the level of director, you'll need to acquire around 12 years of professional experience with extensive training in project management [4]. You'll also need several years of leadership and management experience, preferably leading a team or at least several direct reports.

All salary information is from Glassdoor as of January 2025.

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6. Consider a VP or C-Suite opportunity.

Several years of being a leader in project management can lead to executive-level positions, like vice president of operations or Chief Operating Officer (COO). These high-ranking business leaders implement new strategies to ensure ongoing success and impact.

Beyond the base salaries listed below, you may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as bonuses or stock.

Average executive-level project management US base salaries:

• Vice President of Operations: $159,557

• Chief Operating Officer: $167,140

How to become an executive-level manager

Advancing to the executive level will require several years of project management and leadership experience, along with strong business skills. It may help to have an MBA, which can be one way to strengthen the business skills you'll need to succeed at this level. Or you can explore different certificates or certifications.

All salary information is from Glassdoor as of January 2025.

Is project management a good career path?

Working in project management is in high demand. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 1.2 million job openings in this field [5].

It can also be a satisfying career path for those who enjoy working with people and have strong organizational skills. Planning and starting a project from scratch, collaborating with others to overcome challenges, and seeing your efforts end in measurable success can be hugely rewarding. Project managers can also enjoy working on many different types of projects and learning from each one, as no two projects are the same. Some potential downsides include the demanding nature of the job and the emphasis on meeting deadlines.

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Gain important project management skills on Coursera

Build or strengthen your project management skills—and important leadership and business skills—on Coursera. To get started, consider enrolling in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate, where you'll learn the foundations of Agile project management, with a focus on implementing Scrum events.