Project Manager Salary

Project managers in the United States earn a median pay of $70,091 per year, while those in Canada fetch a pay of C$69,786 ($52,397 USD). The pay for a project manager in the United Kingdom is between £25,000 ($30,886 USD) and £70,000 ($86,484 USD) per year. In Australia, the compensation stands at AU$91,277 ($70,051 USD).

Project managers in Switzerland make CHF111,871 ($113,000 USD) per year, while those in Switzerland make NOK681,600 ($80,122 USD).

Project Manager Salary Influencers

The pay of a project manager depends on factors such as the company and industry. On average, greater experience leads to higher pay. The country work can impact pay and access to fringe benefits.

Industry

Construction companies, Internet or computer firms, organizations that rely heavily on technology and manufacturers rank among the employers or users of project managers. Many project managers often work in construction and may take the title of “construction manager.” In the internet technology field, these professionals are called “IT project managers.”

Many project managers, especially in construction, are full or part-owners of construction management firms. For instance, in the United States, approximately four out of ten construction managers were self-employed in 2014. In Canada, three out of ten construction managers abide in that category.

Geographical Area

Project Manager Salary	US	Canada	UK	Australia	Switzerland	Norway
Hourly Wage	$33.65	C$33.55	£24.04	AU$43.88	CHF53.78	NOK327.69
Annual Wage	$70,000	C$69,786	£50,000	AU$91,277	CHF111,871	NOK681,600

 

Project Manager Salary in the U.S.

PayScale reports that project managers in the United States make in general a salary of $70,091 per year. Total pay ranges between $42,845 and $112,128 per year.

The salary for a project manager in the U.S. in the information technology field stands at $110,881 per year. Project managers in the construction field make around $71,010 per year, while those in manufacturing make $64,654 per year.

Project Manager Salary in Canada

In Canada, general project managers earn about C$69,786, with their total pay ranging from C$45,577 to C$107,241. Internet technology project managers have a median pay of C$81,370, while those in construction make C$74,756 annually.

Project Manager Salary in the UK

Construction managers in the United Kingdom earn between £25,000 and £70,000 annually, according to the National Careers Service. For a business project manager, the pay range is £25,000 to £60,000 per year. IT project managers have earnings between £25,000 and £50,000.

Project Manager Salary in Australia

According to PayScale, general project managers in Australia make about AU$91,277 and earn from AU$60,609 to AU$149,352 per year. For project managers in the IT field, the median pay stands at AU$103,565 and the range of pay runs from AU$69,436 to AU$162,110. Within the construction sector, project managers earn a mean pay of AU$98,269 and pay spanning from AU$60,984 and AU$163,846.

Project Manager Salary in Switzerland

In Switzerland, project managers in construction have a pay of CHF111,871, says PayScale. Project managers in IT have earnings of CHF113,324 per year. Their pay runs from CHF77,482 to CHF167,512.

Project Manager Salary in Norway

According to Statistics Norway, construction managers in Norway make on average NOK56,800 per month, which translates to NOK681,600 per year. For manufacturing managers in Norway, the mean salary is NOK65,700 per month or NOK788,400 per year.

Experience

PayScale reports that the median salary for U.S. project managers with no experience is $59,000 per year. The median rises to $75,000 after five years of experience, to $85,000 after ten years, and then to $91,000 beyond 20 years of experience.

In Canada, entry-level project managers earn a median salary of C$61,000. At five years of experience, the median jumps to C$76,000, and then to C$84,000 after ten years. With 20 years of experience, a project manager has a median salary of C$96,000.

As “Starters,” business project managers in the United Kingdom earn between £25,000 and £30,000. Those deemed “Experienced” make from £30,000 to £50,000, while pay at the “Highly Experienced” level runs from £40,000 to £60,000. For construction managers in the United Kingdom, salaries range from £27,000 to £30,000 for “starters” and £35,000 to £50,000 for “Experienced” managers. As “Highly Experienced” construction managers, minimum earnings stand at £70,000.

For entry-level project managers in Australia, the median pay stands at AU$81,000. Those with five years of experience have a median pay of AU$99,000. Ten years of experience translates to a median of AU$108,000, while the median climbs to AU$125,000 past 20 years of experience.

Working Hours

Generally, project managers work full-time, often beyond 40 hours per week. The occurrence of emergencies, unforeseen events and the approach of deadlines requires many to be on call and work overtime, including on evenings and weekends.

In the United States, approximately 40 percent of internet technology project managers worked more than 40 hours per week.

The Canadian Government’s “Job Bank” states that 97 percent of construction project managers in Canada are full-time workers, compared with 81 percent of job holders overall.

According to the Australian Government’s “Job Outlook Australia,” approximately 92.5 percent of construction managers in Australia log full-time hours. The average workweek for full-time construction managers lasts 44.8 hours, compared to 40.2 hours for all job occupants.

Bonuses & Benefit Packages

According to PayScale, bonuses for project managers in the United States range from $484.99 to $14,616. General project managers in Canada earn bonuses up to C$10,349. In Australia, bonuses have reached AU$19,556.

Bonuses for construction managers in Norway are about NOK1,900 on a monthly basis or NOK22,800 per year. Manufacturing managers in that country earn NOK3,000 in bonuses per month or NOK36,000 per year.

In Australia, Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom and Canada, certain job benefits accrue via statutes and regulations. For example, employees in Australia, Switzerland, and Norway are entitled to employer contributions to their pensions. In Switzerland’s three-tier system, retirement for employed project managers is funded through Old Age and Survivors/Disability Insurance on the first level and mandatory and voluntary employer contributions in the next two levels.

As to paid time away from work, employees in the United Kingdom get 5.6 weeks of paid holiday leave per year. Most project managers in Australia and Switzerland can receive four weeks, while Norway entitles employees to 25 days a year. Most Canadian provinces afford employees two weeks of paid leave per year. Employees in Saskatchewan get three weeks.

Job Outlook

Demand for project managers depends on factors such as the need to upgrade infrastructures such as roads, utilities, bridges, and buildings. The use of computers, digital technology, and the Internet will grow the need for IT project managers.

For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of construction managers in the United States should rise by five percent by 2024, translating to 17,800 additional jobs. For information project managers, the employment rise should reach 15 percent or 53,700 additional jobs.

“Job Bank” predicts that, by 2024, Canada will have 26,800 construction manager positions available for 26,000 seekers of those positions. You can read here if you want to find out more about the construction management salary.

The Australian Government projects an excess of 50,000 job openings for construction managers in Australia by November 2019. The country had 79,700 construction managers in Australia as of November 2015.

Conclusion

Project managers can enhance their pay prospects with experience, the ability to work as self-employed or owners of firms and entry into high-demand fields. Job opportunities will arise especially where communities need infrastructure or organizations upgrade their technology.