Project Manager Career Path: From Entry-Level to VP

There’s no one way to become a project manager. This means you’ll have many options as you embark on your project manager journey. In addition, gaining experience as a project manager can add dimension to your career path.

For example, someone with experience in IT might go on to become an IT project manager and later a senior role within an organization.

Here’s a closer look at a project manager’s potential career path.

All salary information comes from Glassdoor as of January 2024.

1. Work in the industry.

Many project managers get their start in non-managerial roles and work their way up to project manager as they take on more responsibilities. A software development project manager, for example, might start out as a software developer, and a construction project manager might have some experience as a civil engineer. Others may work as consultants to get exposure to business processes and sharpen management skills.

Doing hands-on work in your industry 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.

2. Get an entry-level project management job.

As you launch your career, consider spending some time in an entry-level project management position like project coordinator, assistant project manager, associate project manager, or junior project manager. These positions help project managers plan and oversee a project’s success. 

Working in these roles can help you learn more about this field and bolster your experience before you apply to project manager positions. 

Average US salaries:

• Project coordinator: $60,889

• Assistant project manager: $74,413

• Associate project manager: $76,510

• Junior project manager: $72,699

Read more: What Does an Assistant Project Manager Do? And How to Become One

How to become a project coordinator or similar

If you want to be a project coordinator or work in a parallel role, it’ll help to develop good communication and organizational skills, and have some experience in the industry you’re working in. You can also consider an entry-level certification or certificate, such as:

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification

• Google Project Management: Professional Certificate

Read more: 6 Project Management Certifications to Advance Your Career

3. Step into a project manager role.

Project managers plan and execute projects to help organizations improve processes, develop new products, build structures, or complete other initiatives. A project manager shepherds a team through the project by making sure the schedule, budget, and communications are aligned in order to hit the project’s goals. Project managers can work in many different industries, including construction, health care, tech, finance, government, and IT.

Average US salaries:

• Project manager: $99,619

• IT project manager: $125,704

• Technical project manager: $152,251

• Construction project manager: $108,810

• Health care project manager: $88,867

How to become a project manager: Working your way up from a non-managerial position or junior position can be a good way to start. Earning certifications like the Project Management Professional (PMP), or others in Scrum or Agile, can be helpful.

Read more: Project Manager Salary: Your 2024 Guide

4. Become a senior project manager.

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 generally have several years of experience in this field. 

Average US salary for senior project managers: $153,697

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. You’ll want to prioritize gaining as much knowledge of project management as you can as well, either through coursework or by certification. Sharpen your managerial 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.

Read more: Management Concepts Every Manager Should Know (2024)

5. Advance to director of project management.

Directors of project management oversee the strategy and success of a project management division within a business. 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 salary for director of project management: $195,729

How to become a director: You’ll want several years of management experience, plus exceptional leadership qualities, like communication, problem-solving, and the ability to influence people.

Read more: What Leadership Qualities Make Managers Better?

If you're looking to enter a leadership role but you have gaps in your experience, you might consider taking an online course or earning a certificate to supplement your resume. In just one month, you can earn a certificate from the University of Michigan while sharpening skills such as vision alignment, talent management, and employee motivation:

6. Become VP of operations, COO.

Several years of being a leader in project management might get you to high-level positions, like vice president of operations, or executive positions like Chief Operating Officer. These high-ranking business leaders implement new strategies across the business.

Average US salaries:

• Vice President of Operations: $226,106

• Chief Operating Officer: $307,346

How to become an executive-level manager: You should have extensive experience building and managing teams, and have strong business acumen. Getting an MBA may also help you learn the business skills to enable you to succeed at the executive level.

Is project management a good career path?

This career is in high demand. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 1.1 million job openings in this field each year on average [1].

This career path can be a satisfying one 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 being able to work on many different types of projects and learn from each of them, as no two project are the same. Some potential downsides include the demanding nature of the job and the emphasis on meeting deadlines.

Not ready to take classes or jump into a project yet? Consider subscribing to our weekly newsletter, Career Chat. It's a low-commitment way to stay current with industry trends and skills you can use to guide your career path.

Gain the project management skills you need to advance your career with Coursera

The variety encountered in a project manager’s career path means there are plenty of opportunities to shape your own trajectory. If you’re ready to start learning, consider Coursera's offerings: