Project Management Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of project management managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for project management managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of project management managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for project management managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Project Management Managers?
Do project management managers need a degree? What kind of experience do project management managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for project management managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Project Management Managers
Jobs Postings for Project Management Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 250,616 (55%)
- No Education Listed: 114,577 (25%)
- Master's degree: 56,645 (12%)
- High School or GED: 31,624 (7%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 5,504 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of project management managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 55% of positions. In 25% of job listings no education level was listed and in 12% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Project Management Managers
Jobs Postings for Project Management Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 16,855 (6%)
- 2-3 Years: 72,369 (26%)
- 4-6 Years: 102,438 (37%)
- 7-9 Years: 38,838 (14%)
- 10+ Years: 47,038 (17%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for project management managers. In 37% of job postings for Project Management Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 26% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 10+ years of experience was sought in 17% of job postings for project management managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Project Management Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for project management managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 53 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective project management managers, and in 2023 a total of 1,145,744 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective project management managers.
Top Degree Programs for Project Management Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Project Management Managers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 57,116 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 57,116 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 34,318 |
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | 29,839 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. | 27,457 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician. | 21,228 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 13,002 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 12,850 |
| Environmental Studies. | 10,429 |
| Environmental Science. | 9,888 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,274 |
| Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies. | 9,123 |
| Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology. | 8,136 |
| International Business/Trade/Commerce. | 7,469 |
| Operations Management and Supervision. | 5,855 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other. | 4,872 |
| Sustainability Studies. | 4,382 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other. | 3,190 |
| Natural Resources/Conservation, General. | 3,026 |
| Small Business Administration/Management. | 2,948 |
| Fashion Merchandising. | 2,911 |
| Homeland Security. | 2,894 |
| Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management. | 2,589 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management. | 2,481 |
| Intelligence, General. | 2,413 |
| Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism. | 1,935 |
| Building Construction Technology/Technician. | 1,710 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General. | 1,679 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 1,386 |
| Taxation. | 1,256 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Retail Management. | 983 |
| Architectural Technology/Technician. | 887 |
| Energy Systems Technology/Technician. | 806 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management. | 696 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture. | 685 |
| Environmental Design/Architecture. | 611 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management. | 505 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services. | 500 |
| E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce. | 415 |
| Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management. | 365 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other. | 335 |
| Science/Technology Management. | 321 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Other. | 247 |
| Solar Energy Technology/Technician. | 228 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 110 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, Other. | 72 |
| Construction Project Management. | 4 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Project Management Managers
Make the most of your experience by getting up to 30 credits for training and certificates toward an IT-Project Management associate degree.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Months To Complete: 24
What Skills Do Project Management Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by project management managers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for project management managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Project Management Managers
Based on 392,608 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Project Management Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 352,007 | 90% |
| Construction | 81,811 | 21% |
| Project Schedules | 59,188 | 15% |
| Subcontracting | 57,031 | 15% |
| Construction Management | 54,681 | 14% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Project Management Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 217,553 | 55% |
| Management | 195,969 | 50% |
| Leadership | 135,242 | 34% |
| Planning | 129,636 | 33% |
| Coordinating | 100,354 | 26% |
Based on 392,608 job postings related to project management managers, project management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 90% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for construction, project schedules, subcontracting, construction management and project planning were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for project management managers, followed by management, leadership, planning, coordinating and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 352,007 | 90% |
| Construction | 81,811 | 21% |
| Project Schedules | 59,188 | 15% |
| Subcontracting | 57,031 | 15% |
| Construction Management | 54,681 | 14% |
| Project Planning | 53,039 | 14% |
| Change Orders | 45,446 | 12% |
| Procurement | 43,279 | 11% |
| Project Scoping | 40,174 | 10% |
| Change Management | 38,811 | 10% |
| Milestones (Project Management) | 37,971 | 10% |
| Invoicing | 36,714 | 9% |
| Microsoft Project | 36,476 | 9% |
| Agile Methodology | 33,289 | 8% |
| Project Implementation | 31,895 | 8% |
| Marketing | 31,704 | 8% |
| Finance | 31,607 | 8% |
| Accounting | 28,929 | 7% |
| Risk Management | 28,553 | 7% |
| Project Documentation | 28,431 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 217,553 | 55% |
| Management | 195,969 | 50% |
| Leadership | 135,242 | 34% |
| Planning | 129,636 | 33% |
| Coordinating | 100,354 | 26% |
| Operations | 86,322 | 22% |
| Problem Solving | 84,031 | 21% |
| Microsoft Office | 80,634 | 21% |
| Customer Service | 78,026 | 20% |
| Microsoft Excel | 76,117 | 19% |
| Detail Oriented | 71,935 | 18% |
| Writing | 69,545 | 18% |
| Scheduling | 68,758 | 18% |
| Presentations | 65,968 | 17% |
| Organizational Skills | 51,886 | 13% |
| Budgeting | 51,534 | 13% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 50,858 | 13% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 50,140 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 49,481 | 13% |
| Time Management | 49,046 | 12% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about project management managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for project management managers.
What do project management managers do?
How much do project management managers make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.