Whether an organization wants to construct a new building, develop a software application, or even conduct a science conference, it needs a professional to manage the specific project. As a project manager, you have to develop a detailed plan, evaluate the restraints and risks involved, and oversee the team and resources to bring the project to a successful end ultimately. 97% of the companies agree with the crucial role, and they are willing to pay a high project leader salary for the right talent.
According to a recent report from PMI, the demand for project talent is growing at a huge rate. The static said that by the end of 2027, there will be almost 88 million people who will have a career in project management roles.
Now, if you are thinking about a career as a project manager, there is no better time than the present to opt for Project Management training!
Given the great demand, here we are going to take a deep dive into the project leader's salary, the factors affecting the features, and the tips to add more money to your paycheck. Let’s get started!
Who is a Project leader?
Before we explore the different perspectives on project leader salary, let us take a moment to understand who a project leader is. A project needs many pieces to come together to achieve special goals and objectives. As a project leader, it is your responsibility to guide and manage a team, ensuring every team member adheres to the schedule and does not exceed the budget constraints.
Project Leader Salary in 2024
Have you ever wondered about the technical project leader salary in 2024? Well, you might ask someone like me who has been in the industry as a project manager for years. But even then, I assure you that the response will vary in great figures. Let's explore the overview of project leader salary in different terms.
Tenure period | Average Salary (Source - Glassdoor) |
Per hour | $45.70 |
Per month | $8270 |
Per year | $99,802 |
Project Leader Salary: Based on Experience
Experience plays a vital role in influencing the project leader's salary range. U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics shows that the median range of technical project leader salaries lies between $52,000 and 1,59,150. Let me give you a basic idea of your earning potential based on your experience.
- Beginner: If you are a beginner with relevant certifications in a PMP Course, you are entitled to earn around $56,500 in the field.
- Intermediate: With certain years of experience, you can expect your project manager salary to increase up to $88,010.
- Advanced: As a senior professional myself, I can assure you that the senior project leader salary ranges around $1,37,093.
Project Leader Salary: Based on Location
The location where you work can prominently affect your project leader's salary range. The difference depends on the cost of living, growth potential, and job opportunities in the cities. Here, I have explored the stat in detail.
India
Let's take a look at the variable project leader salary in India
Based on City
City | Average Salary (Source: Indeed) |
Pune | INR 12,85,316 |
Hyderabad | INR 12,93,961 |
Chennai | INR 11,98,901 |
Bengaluru | INR 10,28,837 |
Delhi | INR 7,38,029 |
Based on company
Company | Average Salary |
Microsoft | INR 18,27,000 |
CTS | INR 17,630,000 |
Infosys | INR 14,70,000 |
Mphasis | INR 14,76,000 |
IBM | INR 14,70,897 |
US
The US has a growing demand for project managers. Let's explore their salary range in 2024.
Based on City
City | Average Salary (Source: Indeed) |
New York | $99,670 |
Seattle | $99,945 |
Los Angeles | $104,908 |
Washington | $93,556 |
Austin | $90,250 |
Based on company
Company | Average Salary |
Google | $139,504 |
Accenture | $117,042 |
Apple | $112,099 |
IBM | $111,264 |
CBRE | $109,394 |
UK
The UK has a leading corporate organization with lucrative career opportunities for project managers. Here’s a simple stat on their salary structure.
Based on City
City | Average Salary (Source: Indeed) |
London | £54,941 |
Bristol | £50,102 |
Southampton | £50,856 |
Manchester | £48,261 |
Birmingham | £47,335 |
Based on Company
Company | Average Salary |
NHS | £48,000 |
UK Civil service | £44,000 |
NHS healthcare support workers | £43,368 |
National Highways | £40,668 |
Accenture | £47,033 |
Australia
Let us explore the salary range of project leader in Australia, impacted by various factors.
Based on City
City | Average Salary (Source: Indeed) |
Sydney | AUD 134,900 |
Melbourne | AUD 129,859 |
North Ride | AUD 125, 000 |
Ballarat | AUD 115,000 |
Adelaide | AUD 106,117 |
Based on Company
Company | Average Salary |
Transport for NSW | AUD 148,000 |
NBH | AUD 127,000 |
CSIRO | AUD 119,000 |
Public Transport Authority | AUD 118,000 |
Australian Department of Defense | AUD 110,000 |
Canada
Here’s an overview of Canada's average project leader Salary based on the location and company.
Based on City
City | Average Salary (Source: Indeed) |
Vancouver | CAD 95,469 |
Burlington | CAD 93,779 |
Calgary | CAD 91,736 |
Toronto | CAD 90,192 |
Edmonton | CAD 87,394 |
Based on Company
Company | Average Salary |
York Region | CAD 119,977 |
Infosys | CAD 108,010 |
CTS | CAD 105,000 |
University of British Columbia | CAD 101,607 |
IBM | CAD 101,054 |
Singapore
Let us see how the project leader salary range differs based on the location and company.
Based on City
City | Average Salary (Source: Glassdoor) |
Outram | SGD 6278 |
Singapore | SGD 5824 |
Queenstown | SGD 5705 |
Raffles | SGD 6865 |
Tanjong Pagar | SGD 5608 |
Based on Company
Company | Average Salary |
NCS | SGD 7600 |
Singtel | SGD 6300 |
ST engineering | SGD 6208 |
Standard Chartered Bank | SGD 5875 |
Gov tech | SGD 5500 |
Project Leader Salary: Based on Job Roles
Different job roles correspond to varying ranges of project leader salary. Progressing through these job titles will not only increase your responsibility and reputation but also your earning potential. Hence, make sure to shift your career forward, along with your annual payscale. Here’s an overview of project management salary based on job roles.
Job Role | Average Salary (Source: Glassdoor) |
Project Manager | $99,802 /yr |
Senior Project Manager | $1,54,236 /yr |
Project Manager IV | $1,36,477 /yr |
Factors Affecting Project Leader Salary
Despite your role and profile, several factors can include your earning potential as a project manager. Here, let me explain those factors affecting your project leader's salary.
Location
The Location you chose can greatly influence your project leader salary. This is often due to the differences in living costs and expenses such as mortgage and utilities. For instance, the highest-paying metropolitan area for project leaders is New Orleans, with $171,890 per year. At the same time, the project leader’s salary in Seattle is around $1,07,860.
Industry/Employer/Company
The choice of your industry also predominantly impacts your project leader's salary. For example, the construction, aerospace, and engineering domains are said to have lucrative positions for project managers.
Experience
As you gain more experience, you can also witness an increase in your earning potential. For instance, the median salary for beginners in the field is around $50,000, while experienced professionals earn upto $1,80,000 per annum.
Demand and Supply
With the increasing complexity of projects and the need to achieve organizational goals tend to increase the demand for skilled project leading professionals. The future outlook will contribute to an increase in the salary range in the industry.
Credentials / Certifications
Certifications validate your skills and experience in the industry, making you stand out in the competitive era. For instance, project management professional certifications are regarded as credentials with the highest pay scale.
Skills
The skills you demonstrate to your employer's impact on your project manager's salary. To enhance your knowledge and skill set, along with the salary package, consider exploring courses like the business foundations specialization from leading online platforms.
How to Improve Project Leader Salary?
Now that we have analyzed the average project leader salary, it's time to discover how to unlock your earning potential. Let's find out!
Skills
If you want to earn a good project leader salary per hour, then upskilling yourself in the right direction is essential. You can enroll in industry-specific courses or network with other professionals to enhance the necessary skills for the job.
Certifications
Even though you have relevant educational qualifications, it is crucial to enhance your knowledge by enrolling in the best-in-class certifications. For instance, enrolling for the PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner certification will earn you a lucrative stipend.
Degrees
Having a relevant degree in project management is crucial to advancing your career and salary in the industry. According to a survey, project managers with a doctorate earn $16,000 more than those with a single degree.
Experience
Perhaps the most effective way to increase your project leader salary is to accumulate more years in the field. For instance, I have 20 years of experience in project management, and my earnings will be double the average of a professional with five years of experience.
Why are Project leaders paid so much?
Project management jobs are quickly becoming a career choice for aspirants to earn more project leader salary. Here’s why you will get paid a lot as a project leader.
- Increase in demand: As the global population increases, project managers have to be around to fulfill the needs of the people. For instance, the engineering and construction industry delivers millions of vacancies, among other industries.
- Global projects: When I became a senior project manager, I had the opportunity to see real-world challenges. From infrastructure chain to powerhouse in the USA, the profile will give you the chance to take part in global reach with an attractive project leader salary.
- Career progression: As you progress in the project manager profession, you will have the opportunity to work on complex projects with various roles, including portfolio managers, management consultants, and others. Your project leader's salary per month will only increase as you gain skills and experience in the chosen field.
Conclusion
In today’s hypercompetitive world, it takes a skilled project leader to manage the task and remain productive throughout the process. Given the demand, if you ensure to equip yourself with the right expertise and skills, you can earn more with a project leader salary and advance your career to new heights.
With a decade of experience in the field, I suggest enrolling in KnowledgeHut's Project Management courses. This will make it easy for you to begin your career as a project management professional. After the course, you can drive transformation projects and enhance your earning potential in terms of project leader salary, securing a bright future.