How To Become An Associate Program Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is an associate program manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an associate program manager. For example, did you know that they make an average of $30.21 an hour? That's $62,843 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 8% and produce 12,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What's a day at work look like for an associate program manager?

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

Program Director & Assistant Professor, Maryville University

A bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for three different tracks. First, it can prepare you to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). This is someone who works under a fully credential speech-language pathologist. Often times, they carryout intervention plans developed by a fully credentialed speech-language pathologist. If graduate school is on your horizon, a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders will prepare you for acceptance into a Speech-Language Pathology program, or an Audiology program. If you are not accepted into a graduate program right away, working as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a great way to get experience in the field!

ScoreAssociate Program ManagerUS Average

Salary

4.9

Avg. Salary $62,843

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.7

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.89%

Black or African American 7.53%

Hispanic or Latino 12.61%

Unknown 4.69%

White 65.62%

Gender

female 62.59%

male 37.41%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

9.7

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

1.8

Complexity level is simple

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an associate program manager

Explore associate program manager education requirements

Most common associate program manager degrees

Bachelor's

70.4 %

Master's

16.6 %

Associate

7.9 %

Start to develop specific associate program manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	14.03%
Customer Service	10.37%
Program Management	9.47%
PowerPoint	7.12%
Professional Development	3.94%

Research associate program manager duties and responsibilities

Manage and supervise a staff of two senior coordinators.
Manage the RF vendor installation and test of the BTS equipment.
Foster engagement with MSP and purchasing groups to achieve mutual objectives.
Lead the planning and execution of quarterly KPIs according to company objectives.

Apply for associate program manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an associate program manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do associate program managers rate their job?

-/5

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Associate program manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2023

Pros

I like to work with a team. Satisfaction of seeing the successful completion of a project

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

Project concept, execution - meeting business and Customer expectations.

Cons

Enjoy all aspects.

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019