Project Manager, Project & Program Management, IT Project Manager

This helps us connect you with the right enrollment counselor to help you through the process.

Level of Study Make a selection Select One Bachelor's Master's Doctoral Bridge Associate's Certificates High School Dual

Class Setting Make a selection First select a degree level

Area of Study Make a selection First select a degree level and how you would like to attend

Program Make a selection First select degree level, modality, and area of interest

Overview

A project manager is a professional responsible for guiding a project from start to finish. They coordinate the people, tasks, timelines, budgets, resources and deliverables needed to complete a temporary project with a specific goal.

A project manager's main accountability is to ensure the project is completed on time, within budget and according to requirements while supporting the organization’s broader goals.

A project manager is responsible for keeping projects on schedule, within budget and aligned with stakeholder expectations. Most project managers enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, professional experience and skills in planning, communication, budgeting, risk management and team leadership. Some employers may prefer candidates with certifications such as PMP, CAPM or Agile credentials. The snapshot below summarizes the education, salary factors, job outlook, work settings, responsibilities and advancement paths commonly associated with project management careers.

What To Know

Education Duration

Typically requires a bachelor's degree, though some professionals enter the field with related experience and certifications.

Project manager salaries vary by industry, location, experience level and certifications.

Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for project managers is expected to rise as organizations continue to rely on project managers to lead strategic initiatives, technology implementations and business growth projects. (See disclaimer 1 )

Work Settings

Corporate offices, construction firms, healthcare organizations, government agencies, technology companies, consulting firms and remote work environments.

Certifications

Employers may value certifications such as the Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or Agile certifications.

Key Responsibilities

Plan project timelines and budgets, coordinate teams and resources, manage risks, communicate with stakeholders, track progress and ensure projects are completed on time and within scope.

Common Specializations

IT Project Management, Construction Project Management, Healthcare Project Management, Engineering Project Management, Marketing Project Management and Agile Project Management.

Experienced project managers may advance to senior project manager, program manager, portfolio manager, director of project management or executive leadership roles.

Role

Project managers oversee projects from conception to execution to evaluation. They create project plans, assign responsibilities, track progress, manage risks, solve problems and communicate updates to stakeholders such as clients, executives, vendors and team members

A project manager’s main tasks are as follows:

Planning

Project managers may meet with clients to determine the scope and goals of the project before developing a plan for completion, including the budget, team members and resources needed.

Monitoring

They monitor and track the progress of the project, ensuring the team meets milestones and troubleshoots problems effectively.

Evaluating

Project managers evaluate the final result, review it with the client and make any changes needed before closing out the project.

Although project managers, product managers and program managers all help organizations complete important business initiatives, their responsibilities are different.

A project manager focuses on completing a specific project on time, within budget and according to requirements. A product manager focuses on the strategy, development and success of a product throughout its lifecycle. A program…