How to Become a IT Project Manager in 2025 Next Steps + Requirements

IT project managers in India make an average base salary of ₹14,24,188 as of September 2022 1. The average salary range for an IT Project Manager is from $73,689 to $93,108. The salary will change depending on your location, job level, experience, education, and skills. Yet, with even a rudimentary level of modern infrastructure IT skills, an IT project manager can understand big picture concepts and better anticipate potential roadblocks from a technical viewpoint. Responsible for all IT project requirements and artifacts, such as scope, Middle Project Manager job schedule, cost, resourcing, risk, change and quality management.

Narrowing the Gap: The Need for Talented Project Professionals

For starters, a project coordinator is a more entry-level position and a good steppingstone to get into project management. Project coordinators present different methodologies by coordinating project timelines and reporting back to management with different details. Project coordinators don’t necessarily need to know how to use specific platforms or methodologies, but they may gain experience with them that will help them advance to a project manager role. A coordinator role is a great way to get your start in project management and build the skills you need to eventually move up to an IT project manager role. As in any field, there are projects that teams of employees work on in technology.

Should I Go for the PMI-RMP Certification Exam?

This is a natural question because the PMI-RMP is the next sought after certification from the PMI; they want to achieve it. With your collaborative skills, you can get stakeholder buy-in and complete the project with minimal hassle. Create a customized cover letter and modify the resume per the job requirement to increase the chance of getting interview calls. Make sure you have references ready whenever the employers ask for them. Finally, the complete project is handed to the customer, stakeholder, or client.

#2. Communication

• With these goals established, the project manager then develops a roadmap, which includes timelines, milestones, and workflows.
• So, far from being just a job that analyzes budgets and tasks, these knowledge workers must also manage other IT knowledge workers with massive technical acumen.
• For senior project managers, advanced certifications such as PgMP or portfolio-specific credentials can help demonstrate expertise and advance their careers to higher leadership roles.
• New project managers learn these are the triple constraints of their job and it takes a great deal of attention and expertise to pull all three of these mandates off successfully.
• Yet, with even a rudimentary level of modern infrastructure IT skills, an IT project manager can understand big picture concepts and better anticipate potential roadblocks from a technical viewpoint.
• A degree in management information systems, information technology or computer science would be appropriate.
• If you’d like to advance to become a technology project manager, what can you do to better your chances?

The PMI found that 67% of financial firms have seen significant improvements in project success rates by involving certified project managers, especially in compliance-related initiatives. Effective project managers mitigate risks, ensure compliance with regulations, and make sure projects are both financially sound and executed seamlessly. To sum up, the role of a project manager is much more than managing tasks.

As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms industries, project management tools are evolving too. Platforms like Monday.com and Wrike are coding jobs integrating AI features that automate repetitive tasks, predict risks, and optimise workflows. These innovations allow project managers to focus on strategic decisions rather than administrative tasks. For teams adopting Agile or Scrum methodologies, tools like Jira are indispensable.

• These IT project management positions require the ability to multitask to an extreme, and it’s a field where your tech acumen is just as important as your ability to stay organized and handle pressure.
• A project management degree is not always required for jobs and certification in the field.
• Knowledge of methods and approaches designed to accommodate changes is often required.
• Each day, IT project managers draw from their leadership skills to oversee different types of projects and project teams.
• Hard skills are quantifiable, and you can earn them through training and education.
• In fact, many IT project managers began their careers in related roles such as operations management, business analysis, or software engineering.

To become an IT project manager, gaining relevant work experience is crucial. You can start by looking for entry-level jobs working on smaller IT projects, teams, or products to get yourself noticed. Any relevant role in planning campaigns or managing projects is advantageous, as it proves to employers that you have valuable experience overseeing the development of new projects. With a degree in project management, you can open the door to opportunity in a variety of industries, including healthcare, construction, and technology.

Six Sigma Vs Agile

If something goes awry in a deployment, the IT manager is the one ultimately responsible. This piece of ad content was created by Rasmussen University to support its educational programs. Rasmussen University may not prepare students for all positions featured within this content. Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. As a project manager, you will make decisions daily that must positively affect the project outcome. Decision-making skills are critical, including making the right decisions from available options.

The daily tasks of an IT project manager can include:

Though this is not a requirement, an undergraduate degree will help you become an IT project manager. With an undergraduate degree, you can quickly be promoted to a project manager position even if you have less experience than peers who do not possess an undergraduate degree. Other sources, such as Salary.com and PayScale, report similar salary ranges for IT project managers in the US. For example, Salary.com reports an average salary of 80,191 USD for an IT project manager, and PayScale reports an average salary of 105,000 USD. They are responsible for managing IT projects and delivering the project deliverables to the project sponsor or client. Throughout every project, it is important to take initiative and gain experience as you go.

• Delivering projects within budget is a common challenge, especially when unexpected costs arise.
• Hard skills enable project managers to plan, execute, and deliver projects effectively.
• The average annual salary for an IT project manager ranges from $60,000-$125,000.
• They provide a blueprint for planning, managing, and executing tasks and projects.
• If you’re in school, try to work a part-time job in some type of IT role.

What is Scope Creep in Project Management?

New project managers learn these are the triple constraints of their job and it takes a great deal of attention and expertise to pull all three of these mandates off successfully. The underlying tenet of these requirements, however, is the IT professionals that build the product itself. So, far from being just a job that analyzes budgets and tasks, these knowledge workers must also manage other IT knowledge workers with massive technical acumen. While the IT project manager may not have the same level of technical expertise as, say, a senior programmer, the tech PM must be able to speak the language of these programmers.