What is an information technology project manager and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a project manager in IT?

It takes five to nine years to become a project manager in IT. The exact time it takes to become a project manager in IT depends largely on education and experience level. IT project managers often hold a bachelor's degree in management, business, or a related field, and professional certification and extensive related experience. As part of their education, project managers may obtain a certificate or a master's degree in project management.

Q: How much money does an IT project manager make?

An IT project manager makes around $93,509 annually. The top 25% of IT managers earned an average of $160,710 that year, while the bottom 25% made $80,110. The high fluctuations in pay rate for IT project managers had to do largely with the location of the position, the type of company, and the number of years of experience working in a tech manager role.

Q: What do I need to become an IT project manager?

To become an IT project manager, you will need a background in computer science or information technology and several years of project management experience. Not all IT project managers have a bachelor's degree. 6% of IT project managers have just an associate's degree or high school diploma. While there is no educational minimum to become an IT project manager, over 80% have a bachelor's degree. A specialized master's degree in project management or MBA with a technology concentration is recommended.

Q: What education do you need to become an IT project manager?

You do not need an education to become an IT project manager. The good news is that those who have only a high school diploma or an associate's degree can still obtain a PMP. To qualify, you will need work experience that includes at least 60 months leading projects and 35 hours of coursework. In addition, you will also need to pass the PMP exam and participate in ongoing professional development.

Q: What is information technology project management?

Information technology project management plans, establishes, and manages information technology (IT) projects, and serves as a liaison between the business and technical aspects of assigned projects.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Matthew Liotine Ph.D.,

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

An information technology project manager leads IT teams by overseeing the planning, designing, and implementation, and monitoring of IT projects to ensure they meet organizational goals. Responsibilities include developing project plans, communicating with stakeholders, assessing risks, and troubleshooting issues. IT project managers also ensure that projects align with industry regulations. They work across various industries and may manage projects ranging from software development to system upgrades.

What general advice would you give to an information technology project manager?

Matthew Liotine Ph.D.

Clinical Professor and Director of Master of Science in Supply Chain and Operations Management, University of Illinois at Chicago

Most employers tell me that soft skills are equally, if not more important, than technical skills or domain knowledge. This translates into external/internal customer-facing skills, such as communication, team collaboration, writing, presentation, problem-solving, and being resourceful. (Many graduates overlook writing as a vital skill, but they fail to realize that in the course of their jobs, they will likely be required to write lots of memos and tons of emails.) The need to perfect these skills within the confines of a virtual world has become even more challenging and amplified with COVID. I teach in the information systems discipline, and when you view student resumes, many people look the same on paper. The soft skills will make a candidate stand out head and shoulders above the rest. That's why the candidate should pay attention to the screening interviews that they will undergo during the hiring process since employers will use these interviews to vet these skills.

ScoreInformation Technology Project ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.8

Avg. Salary $106,981

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

4.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 33.57%

male 66.43%

Age - 43

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 - 43

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.7

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an information technology project manager?

Pros

Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology
Exposure to various industries and business strategies
Opportunity for flexible work arrangements
Chance to work on innovative projects
High demand for IT project managers in the job market

Cons

High levels of stress and pressure
Constantly juggling multiple projects and priorities
Dealing with difficult stakeholders and team members
Often faced with tight deadlines and budget constraints
Can be difficult to balance work-life responsibilities

Information technology project manager career paths

Key steps to become an information technology project manager

Explore information technology project manager education requirements
Most common information technology project manager degrees
Bachelor's
67.8 %
Master's
18.3 %
Associate
9.8 %
Start to develop specific information technology project manager skills
Skills Percentages
Project Management 15.86%
Infrastructure 7.33%
Scrum 4.51%
Software Development 4.00%
Project Scope 3.52%
Show more
Complete relevant information technology project manager training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information technology project managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information technology project manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information technology project manager resumes.
Research information technology project manager duties and responsibilities
- Manage schedules, payroll, and customer relations for all subordinates.
- Prepare detailed work breakdown structures (WBS) and instill shared accountability for achieving project milestones.
- Project hardware and software resources are manage through accurate control of notebook, desktop and remote server master build configurations.
- Manage change windows and verify impact to production environment.
Prepare your information technology project manager resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information technology project manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information technology project manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable information technology project manager resume templates
Build a professional information technology project manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your information technology project manager resume.
Apply for information technology project manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an information technology project manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
2. Consult your professional network
3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
4. Watch out for job scams

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	15.86%
Infrastructure	7.33%
Scrum	4.51%
Software Development	4.00%
Project Scope	3.52%

How did you land your first information technology project manager job

Greg Goldbach

Information Technology Project Manager, freelance

I became an IT Project Manager while serving in the Air Force. I graduated from a 36-week
technical school, and began at a fixed Air Force base, managing Communications and network security.
Communications Operations including Military Affiliate Radio System Station management,
Communications and Message Center, Communications Security for base and two geographically
separated units in Mill Valley and Point Arena, CA. I had other IT opportunities in mobile tactical radar
control units and combat communications units. I led and managed activities for High Frequency radio,
Technical Control, Patch and Test Facility, Phone switching, Record Communications/teletype and
Communications Security, and Network and Communications Security manager during this time.
After a twenty-year career in the Air Force, I served as the Chief of Technology, contracting with
the State of CA (Developmental Disabilities Services), and I led technical project teams, managed
Technical Project Managers, and oversaw all IT Infrastructure initiatives and operations for main office
and three field offices. I supervised the planning, implementation, monitoring and maintenance of all
network systems, network security and user technology. I maintained service level performance of
workstations and server farms; Managed the setup, configuration and support of the network, including
development and maintenance, upgrades, security and configurations to meet service needs to ensure
the regional center operated on a safe, secure network.
I built on my Project Management experience with other roles included managing an IDIQ
contract for US Transportation Command. Here I developed the distribution systems architecture for the
Department of Defense, updated technical details regarding Enterprise Data Management, Enterprise
Electronic Commerce and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) information to the Enterprise Architecture
database. I worked alongside distribution functional experts to develop pathways to moving from As-Is
state to the future To-Be state for the Enterprise. I tested software releases and identified defects to
developers for resolution, and was a part of the hardware and software install teams at seven major
aerial ports, where I completed systems tests, and trained the technicians on the system.
At the University of California I helped to implement an Oracle PeopleSoft system. I supported
the technical and bus

Average information technology project manager salary

The average information technology project manager salary in the United States is $106,981 per year or $51 per hour. Information technology project manager salaries range between $76,000 and $149,000 per year.

Average information technology project manager salary

$106,981 Yearly

$51.43 hourly

More information technology project manager salary info

What am I worth?

How do information technology project managers rate their job?

3/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Information technology project manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024

Cons

Zero work life balance and very high project stress

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2023

Pros

Staying abreast of technology and helping an organization define Technology strategy.

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

Cons

Strict deadlines, and stakeholders. Feeling undervalued or underappreciated.

Information technology project manager FAQs

How long does it take to become a project manager in IT?

How much money does an IT project manager make?

What do I need to become an IT project manager?

What education do you need to become an IT project manager?

What is information technology project management?

Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Information Technology Project Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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What is an information technology project manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an information technology project manager?

What are the pros and cons of being an information technology project manager?

Information technology project manager career paths

Key steps to become an information technology project manager

Explore information technology project manager education requirements

Most common information technology project manager degrees

Start to develop specific information technology project manager skills

Complete relevant information technology project manager training and internships

Research information technology project manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your information technology project manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable information technology project manager resume templates

Apply for information technology project manager jobs

How did you land your first information technology project manager job

Average information technology project manager salary

How do information technology project managers rate their job?

Information technology project manager reviews

Information technology project manager FAQs

How long does it take to become a project manager in IT?

How much money does an IT project manager make?

What do I need to become an IT project manager?

What education do you need to become an IT project manager?

What is information technology project management?

Search for information technology project manager jobs

Information technology project manager jobs by state