How To Become A Federal Programs Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a federal programs manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Federal program managers are responsible for managing projects of various nature that concern affairs involving several states. The programs may relate to various areas, from improving education to increasing the efficiency of business enterprises, manufacturing or industry goals, and many more.

Setting objectives and creating strategies, coordinating efforts and organizing work phases, creating timelines, and making sure objectives are achieved within deadlines are some of the things you will be concerned about on a day-to-day basis. Analyzing risks, communicating with stakeholders, and overseeing the work of large and varied teams are important aspects of this position.

A bachelor's or master's degree in business administration or a related field will be necessary to successfully apply for this position. Experience in project management will also be important, as managing federal programs is not the game of a beginner. Leadership and motivating people are things you will have to excel in to be successful here, and computer literacy is also an absolute must.

ScoreFederal Programs ManagerUS Average

Salary

5.3

Avg. Salary $67,453

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%

Asian 7.87%

Black or African American 7.88%

Hispanic or Latino 13.25%

Unknown 4.72%

White 65.60%

Gender

female 44.44%

male 55.56%

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

Complexity level

1.8

Complexity level is simple

7 - challenging

Key steps to become a federal programs manager

Explore federal programs manager education requirements

Most common federal programs manager degrees

Bachelor's

61.8 %

Master's

21.4 %

Associate

8.1 %

Start to develop specific federal programs manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Program Management	30.26%
Federal Government	29.65%
Customer Satisfaction	6.01%
DOD	4.28%
OSHA	3.80%

Research federal programs manager duties and responsibilities

Specialize in video collaboration technologies - multi-class Audio/Video bridging, manage video services and cloud video solutions.
Develop statements of work and formulate RFQ and RFP responses.
Create processes for RFP opportunity / identification and bid response, capture design, and billing.
Support diverse projects for international sales, science and technology, logistics, emergency management response, and mobile networks/applications.

Apply for federal programs manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a federal programs 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

What is a federal programs manager and how to become one

Federal programs manager career paths