How to hire a computer project manager

How to hire a computer project manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step computer project manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a computer project manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new computer project manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a computer project manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A computer project manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, computer project managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents computer project manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Computer Project Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Computer Project Manager	Computer and information systems managers, often called information technology (IT) managers or IT project managers, plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization. They help determine the information technology goals of an organization and are responsible for implementing computer systems to meet those goals.	$35-61
   Vice President Of Information Technology	A Vice President Of Information Technology supervises an organization's technology initiatives, IT changes, and updates to all projects. They also identify and propose new information technologies and systems to improve business processes and decision-making.	$52-111
   Information Technology Director	An information technology (IT) Director is a professional responsible for the management, strategy, and execution of an organization's IT infrastructure. He/She supervises a team of workers while working with the organization's management and external vendors and advisors... Show more	$46-94

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Auto CAD
   • Project Management
   • R
   • Microsoft Project
   • Data Warehouse
   • Unix
   • Linux
   • Computer System
   • SQL
   • SharePoint
   • PC
   • Software Development
   • Status Reports
   • PowerPoint

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create and manage the project's website using Sharepoint.
   • Manage implementation of VMware solution for compute high availability.
   • Manage data center migrations and SAN storage remediation and migration projects major educational testing organization.
   • Implement a repeatable process methodology base on the PMI PMBOK defining a systematic approach to delivering solutions and achieving customer objectives.
   • Inspect parts on CMM using PC DMIS.
   • Build and deliver cloud, compute, and storage infrastructure supporting major business efforts.

   More computer project manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your computer project manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A computer project manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, computer project managers' average salary in arkansas is 37% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level computer project managers earn 43% less than senior-level computer project managers.
   • Certifications. A computer project manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a computer project manager's salary.

   Average computer project manager salary

   $96,749yearly

   $46.51 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level computer project manager salary

   $73,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average computer project manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$122,508	$59
   2	Oregon	$104,143	$50
   3	Washington	$103,136	$50
   4	Connecticut	$98,242	$47
   5	Missouri	$97,967	$47
   6	Virginia	$91,707	$44
   7	Texas	$91,294	$44
   8	Arizona	$91,255	$44
   9	Maine	$89,251	$43
   10	Georgia	$89,112	$43
   11	Pennsylvania	$85,736	$41
   12	Minnesota	$84,115	$40
   13	North Carolina	$83,375	$40
   14	Florida	$81,887	$39
   15	Kansas	$81,142	$39
   16	Louisiana	$79,102	$38

   Average computer project manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Staples	$102,430	$49.25	3
   2	NOV	$95,195	$45.77	15
   3	Hanu an Insight Company	$92,571	$44.51
   4	Knight Transportation	$90,347	$43.44
   5	Capricorn Systems	$88,547	$42.57
   6	Pan-American Life Insurance Group	$87,876	$42.25
   7	JLL	$87,120	$41.88	53
   8	Carnegie Mellon University	$78,788	$37.88	8

4. Writing a computer project manager job description

   A job description for a computer project manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a computer project manager job description:

   Computer project manager job description example

   Our client, a global financial services firm and a market leader in securities, asset management and credit services, is seeking a Mainframe Computing Project Manager / Program Lead
   Alpharetta, GA
   
   Position Type: IT - Contract
   
   Job Summary:
   
   Seeking a project manager / program lead who has qualified experience with large firmwide multi-year, multi-team and multi-disciplinary technology initiatives particularly in the areas of core technologies and infrastructure, preferably in Mainframe. The qualified candidate is execution and delivery-focused, works well across diverse teams, has strong communication and influencing skills, the ability to organize, coordinate and track many moving parts, manage vying priorities, and do so with proficiency in self-prioritization. This candidate will build rapport with key stakeholders and establish themselves as a trusted partner. This role will work with a range of engineers, operational support, risk officers and senior management globally, across different time zones, to successfully deliver critical initiatives for the organization.
   
   Job Responsibilities:
   
   Manage a portfolio of projects, and track risks, issues, dependencies across the program Create & manage project plans and monitor progress Align project objectives with organization goals, and ensure project team is clear on objectives Manage project scope, risk and documentation Assist project team with the design and development of tasks Communicate progress updates on a consistent basis to various stakeholders and escalate in a timely manner Lead issue identification and resolution Foster partnership with customers/stakeholders/sponsors Support Agile transformation Partner with Agile teams on sprint planning, backlog prioritization, and change readiness Develop subject matter knowledge to be perceived as a key contributor to support various project tasks and overall strategy
   Required Skills:
   
   Bachelor's degree in computer science, business, or a related field Professional Project Management Certification from accredited institution preferred Strong familiarity with project management software tools, methodologies, and best practices Excellent time management and organizational skills Strong sense of personal accountability Ability to predict challenges and seek to proactively head-off obstacles Excellent analytical skills and ability to establish quality measures and standards Proven ability to solve problems creatively Detail-oriented, collaborative, and organized Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including effectively articulating the message in a clear and concise fashion which is audience appropriate Strong interpersonal skills and extremely resourceful Ability to document accurate and timely meeting notes, and track/manage follow ups High proficiency in standard productivity tools (Google Docs, MS Project, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, Visio) Understanding of both Agile methodology and SDLC principles Knowledge of SharePoint and JIRA
   Experience:
   
   5+ years of project management and related experience in a financial industry leading and managing large/complex projects (IT projects preferred) Experience working in a high-level collaborative environment and promoting a teamwork mentality Managerial experience applying analytical thinking and problem-solving skills Experience in Agile (Kanban/Scrum) methodology preferred Experience seeing projects through the full life cycle Proven ability to complete projects according to outlined scope, budget, and timeline Knowledge of mainframe environment a plus

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find computer project managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your computer project manager job on Zippia to find and recruit computer project manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting computer project managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new computer project manager

   Once you've selected the best computer project manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new computer project manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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